The Gospel Is Good News

By Jim Deason

If someone discovered a foolproof cure for cancer you would expect him to shout it from the highest mountain. It would be criminal to keep such good news a secret. You would expect even the most-greedy of money-mongers to share his knowledge with folks whose lives are on the line. It is true that bad news often travels faster than good, but when good news is of such a critical nature it must be shared.

The best of all news is not of a remedy for some physical malady. Rather, that Jesus Christ has come into the world to save sinners. The angel announced to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). Jesus commanded that this gospel or good news be preached “to all creation” (Mark 16:15). He wanted everyone to know about His plan to redeem man.

In a day in which we are bombarded from every direction with bad news, we need to hear something good. We need good news. And the gospel of Jesus Christ is good news.

The gospel is good news because it settles our past. Is there something in your past that you wish you hadn’t said or done? Is there something that you hope no one ever comes to know because of the shame it could cause you? Something you have a hard time letting go or forgiving yourself for? Are you not able to do your best today because yesterday just won’t let you go? There’s good news! The gospel settles all of that! When the people of the New Testament city of Corinth looked back, they saw an ugly past; a past filled with fornication, adultery, homosexuality, theft, drunkenness, and a host of other shameful sins. But in hearing, believing, and obeying the gospel they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:9-11). In Christ they had become new creatures with their past behind them. Friend, it can be with you just like it was with them. No matter what is in your past, with the gospel you can put it behind you.

The gospel is good news because it gives meaning for the present. The volume of bad news that we hear today is testimony to the fact that we live in the midst of masses who have no direction and no purpose in their lives. The gospel gives us a reason to live. We are saved to serve. After Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet he commanded them, “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet” (John 13:14). Jesus was commanding his disciples to be selfless servants. This was the badge of identification that they would wear before all men. It was what set them apart from the rest of the world (John 13:34-35). Serving one another gives us a purpose, a reason for living. It is more than what we do, it is who we are! No matter how shallow or meaningless you may feel your life to be, Jesus can give you meaning and direction for a rich, rewarding life.

The gospel is good news because it assures our future. Peter rejoiced in that he had been born again unto a “living hope” which included “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven...” (1 Pet. 1:3-4). There were certainly things in his life that had brought him a lot of shame. Yet, having obtained forgiveness in Jesus, he was looking to the future. Jesus had gone to build an eternal home for his people (John 14:1-3) and Peter was confident that one of those rooms was reserved in his name. That’s why he kept his faith in Jesus Christ. And herein is the good news- we can anticipate that same reward. Friend, your life, like that of a lot of folks, may look a little bleak sometimes. You may not know how tomorrow’s bills will be paid. You may be in fear of what the doctor’s report will tell you. But faith in and obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ can help us look beyond things here and give us an eternal perspective. And that’s good news.

What about you? What’s your life like? If you haven’t obeyed the gospel your past is unsettled, you have no meaningful purpose or direction in life and there’s no future to which to look forward. But with Jesus Christ there’s a better way. If you want to learn more about the gospel and God’s plan for your life, I’m always available. Let us be of service to you.

“On the Road”

By Jeff Curtis

Willie Nelson, a country music singer, has performed one of his song’s multiple times, called “On the Road Again.” Just as the Israelites were “on the road” – constantly traveling for almost forty years (Numbers 33:1-49), so Christians are “on the road,” traveling through this world. We should be looking forward to settling finally in our real home, heaven.

The Christian’s life has often been compared to a journey. For example, Pilgrim’s Progress, a famous 17^th century novel by John Bunyan, pictures the life of a Christian as that of a pilgrim on his way to the “Celestial City.”

In the New Testament, the church is compared to Israel in the wilderness. The inspired writers used Israel’s experience to warn Christians against apostasy (1Corinthians 10:1-2; Hebrews 3&4). Also, Jesus said that His followers are to be “in the world” but not “of the world” (John 17:11,16). Paul mentioned, “Our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20), not on the earth; and Peter wrote that Christians are “aliens and strangers” in this world (1Peter 2:11). Christians should believe, as the song says, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing thru” – and we should act accordingly.

How would we who are Christians live if we embraced the truth that we are “on the road” as long as we are on the earth? (1) We would accept the idea that our primary task is to do the will of our heavenly King, acting as ambassadors on His behalf (2Corinthians 5:20). (2) We would realize that our standards are not set by any worldly authority or by the views of those around us, but by God Himself. (3) We would value the spiritual realities of Christ above the goods of this world. We would not busy ourselves accumulating “treasures on earth,” but focusing on laying up “treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-20).

Your Spiritual Summer Bucket List

by Joshua Welch

Most have heard of a “bucket list.” Often, a bucket list consists of things people want to do before they “kick the bucket” and die. Maybe they want to visit a dream destination, jump out of an airplane, or scuba dive with the sharks. Yet, for our sakes today, we want to think about our summer bucket list. Some have a bucket list of things they would like to do over summer break - get a tan, visit a theme park, or catch up with friends. However, have you thought of any spiritual summer goals? Consider keeping this checklist handy...

1) Work so you can give. Paul writes of how we should “labor, working with hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need” (Ephesians 4:28). Teens, don't just sit at home and do nothing all summer. Work. Support yourself by working but also work to put money aside to help fund a spiritual work or effort of an individual or of the church. Additionally, kids need to pitch in around the house and help their parents who are working (Ecclesiastes 9:10; 2 Thessalonians 3:10).

2) Read the Scriptures. Some seasons are busier than others and it cuts into our reading time. But when we have a slower season be intentional about reading the Scriptures so you might be edified and enlightened by the Word. What’s on your spiritual reading list to tackle this summer? How about Luke’s gospel and the book of Acts? If you’ll read just one chapter a day you should be able to cover it in a couple months (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

3) Plan a spiritual edification trip. Maybe it’s a VBS, a gospel meeting, or youth series, or a song leader workshop. However, make plans with someone to visit a group or church that is hosting a speaker or series and be edified while encouraging others (Acts 15:35-36; Romans 1:9-10). While you’re at it invite your friends to our summer series too!

4) Share a meal. If you have more time to cook and entertain, consider putting extra effort into hospitality this summer. It can be as simple as an ice cream cone after Sunday night services or a cookout on the back porch. But hospitality is an encouraging tool to grow relationships and build bonds of togetherness with one another (Acts 2:46; 16:15; 1 Peter 4:9).

5) Visit someone lonely. James calls us to “visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (James 1:27). The book of Hebrews says we should “strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees…” (12:12). While we encourage those who are discouraged by our visits, we often leave feeling uplifted too! Who can you make time to visit this summer?

Keep this list handy as a spiritual motivator this summer! Let’s grow.