In a world inundated with bad news, don’t forget the good news! The good news is, of course, the gospel of Jesus Christ. No matter how much is changing in the world, the good news is Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8). While everything around us may feel like the world is constantly shifting like sand beneath our feet, the good news is our feet are actually secure and planted on the rock of Jesus (Matthew 7:24-27).
These storms and trials will not sweep us away. This will not be the end of our story. For those who proclaim Jesus as Lord, our eternity is already written. There will be no surprise ending. The future is sure and ends with us in the arms of Jesus. That is truly good news!
The gospel of Jesus Christ begins with some bad news: we can’t do this on our own. No matter what we do or say, our efforts will always fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). No amount of wealth will allow you to buy a ticket into Heaven. You may be the kindest, most generous person in the world, but if you don’t admit you’re a sinner in desperate need of His mercy and grace, you will go to Hell. Every one of us has broken God’s laws. We’ve all lied, stolen, made something other than God an idol in our lives, committed adultery in our hearts, coveted the life and possessions of others, and dishonored our parents. The list could go on. But the fact is, if we’ve broken any of God’s laws, we’ve broken them all (James 2:10). We are all doomed.
But don’t forget the good news… Our fate would have been sealed except for the sacrifice of God’s Son. God sent His only Son to bear the wrath we deserve for rebelling against God. Jesus lived a perfect life and yet suffered the death we deserve in our place. Better still, He didn’t stay dead. Not only did He defeat the power of sin in His life on earth, but He also defeated the consequences of sin when He defeated death and rose from the grave. Our atonement was paid, and Jesus came through as holy on the other side as He had been before He took on the weight of all our sins. Christ’s sacrifice made a way for us to live for Him today and reign with Him in eternity.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is good news for every man, woman, and child alive today. If we will repent of our selfishness and pride, confess our sins and our need for a Savior, we will be saved. It’s as simple and difficult as that. We like our sin. We enjoy believing we control our destiny. Salvation isn’t for everyone. It is only for those who respond in humility and faith to God’s calling. He is reaching out to you, passionately wanting you to accept His offer of freedom and grace because He loves you so much. All you must do is accept the invitation. You are not beyond help or hope. There is a way out of the darkness and despair. No matter where you find yourself today, don’t forget the good news!