As a Christian, I believe God has called us to see that there is good news in every bad news story.
Take, for example the basketball teams of our two primary state universities. Both have great coaches who succeeded winning coaches, and both enter each season anticipating success. However, this season the Spartans (bad news) have fallen from #4 in the nation to unranked, lost to Purdue after leading by 17, and now two players have tested positive for COVID (one of them being the head coach’s son). Michigan (good news – if you are a Wolverine fan) is 11-0 (6-0 Big Ten), has beaten 3 consecutive nationally ranked teams by +19 points, and is experiencing an incredible convergence of head coach, assistants, and players. Of course, the season for both teams has a long way to go (is that good news or bad?)
Everything in life has good news and bad news. The eyes of Christ are able to see God @ Work in every situation, with the reality that his goal in every occasion is to bring blessings … or good news. As our Savior, he would have us see this even in the worst of situations.
Take, for example the death of a loved one. The bad news is obvious in many, many ways. The good news can be seen in what they have been rescued from, what the believer is now experiencing, the legacy they leave behind, and … well, the list goes on and on.
Or take the conference I am currently attending via Zoom. The bad news includes the fact that I am not interacting with the other participants nor experiencing the blessings of being on “retreat.” On the other hand, I have not had to spend any time traveling, I am not away from home, family or work, the conference is costing me nothing … and I am gaining what I hoped to be gaining.
And, while the bad news of the pandemic keeps echoing through the airwaves, in many other ways people are healthier, learning how to do new things or old things in different ways, and are often more appreciative of things formerly overlooked.
The bad news of life on this earth is that we all struggle … all are contaminated with sin … and wrestle with fear, failure, and futility. The good news comes in the fact that success comes less from struggling harder against these and more from simply listening … to the healing, hope-filled and heavenly promises of our God. I suggest you start today by trying these three on for size:
The word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4.12
(God’s Word) is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear and do it?” But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.
Deuteronomy 30.11-14
.The righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down) or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ (that is to bring Christ up from the dead).” But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
Romans 10.6-11
Fortunately, the truth is very simple. There is bad news all around us, attacking us every day from multiple angles. The Good News is that God is constantly at work in our world, overcoming the bad news with the power of his Word. In fact, Christ Jesus is at work in you right now, opening your eyes to see his blessings at work IN ALL THINGS … yes, even in things like (and hear the word ALL) elections and presidents!
Now, are you ready for him to be at work this way in you … and through you in others