So What’s The Good News?

Does hearing the Gospel message bring you joy? Like, legitimate joy? When the Pastor preaches it, or someone talks about it, does it excite you? Does it make you want to tell someone what you just heard? You don’t have to ask a newly wedded couple if they’re excited the day after the proposal if they’re excited; they’ll tell you. But ask a Christian if the Gospel message excites them or brings them joy, the very essence to our existence and purpose of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, and you’re likely going to get a mixed response.

Having such an excitement for the Word of God seems like such a surreal reality that we live in. We are so divided on an array of political and social issues. Especially living in the San Francisco Bay Area, arguably one of the most progressive areas in the United States, here its common to see same sex marriage celebrated with pride flags flown in quiet neighborhoods. Meanwhile in other areas of the U.S., people are debating the removal of Confederate flags and Civil War monuments. It just seems like two different worlds. One going left, the other going right.

As a society unfortunately, we are addicted to bad news. When someone reads good news, its not as compelling as something with a negative tone.  Good news seems to be hard to find. Receiving bad news is one of the quickest pathways to experiencing anxiety though. Everywhere we turn in the world, bad news is easy to find. We all face the challenge of confronting widespread and normalized negativity with a desire to see the world through a lens of hope. But how do we find hope in such a messed up society? What’s the good news?

I don’t make the same mistake twice. I do it three or four times just be sure.

Some of us are slow learners. I can remember in Seminary, there was this student who could read a passage once and have it memorized. It made me sick. Sure, he studied just as hard, if not harder than the rest of us, but his ability to retain information was unbeatable. Slow learning though, is no excuse for no application. What good is learning something if the only reason you learn it is to pass a test? More importantly, what good is knowing the rules only so you know your “limits?”

For many of us, being a Christian is nothing more than a list of rules on how to live and what you can’t do now that you chose to follow Christ. You can’t cuss, you can’t smoke, drink or see R-rated movies. You cannot wear certain apparel, listen to certain music or vote Democrat. No tattoos, no driving passed the speed limit, no premarital sex, no sports on Sunday’s, no obscene piercings, no biracial relationships, no same-sex relationships, no, no, no, no, no. Am I wooing any of you to the Bridegroom? And I’m sure while reading that list, I’m curious how many read it and agree with all of it, some of it, or none of it. Either way, all of it has been preached from pulpits all over the world as recently as this last Sunday.

When being a Christian is just a list of rules, it doesn’t send the same message as the song you sing, “my chains are gone, I’ve been set free.” Some of us sin to see how far we can go before ridicule and then, without criticism, feel justified in our depravity. But how does that benefit the spreading of Gospel? When was the last time your actions preached Jesus?

The reality is, good news isn’t hard to find. You’re wasting so much precious time waiting on good news. Good news is already written! I know, I know. But Zak, you don’t understand. I’ve been waiting to hear if I got this latest promotion. I’ve been waiting to see if this outreach will bring more people to our church. I’m praying my boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife will choose to stay. You’ve shackled yourself to results. You’ve placed limits on God that if something happens the way you want, that God is answering your prayers and good news wins. Good news isn’t found in circumstantial outcomes. That’s what causes people to ask, why do bad things happen to good people? Remember: Christ’s good news began with death. The resurrection cannot occur until the one who is rising is dead. Loss followed by amazing gain. When following Christ is a list of rules, when following Christ is seeing how much you can get away with, when following Christ is based circumstantial outcomes, you diminish the good news. Never take God’s grace for granted; never avoid it though either. Embrace His grace.

How many times was Paul surrounded by horrible circumstances yet managed to say, “well the good news here is…” He introduces himself in his letter to Philemon in verse 9 as “a prisoner for Christ Jesus” and well on in years. Despite the limitations on his freedom, Paul was intent on finding ways to continue the work of proclaiming the Gospel. In his letter to the Ephesus Church, Paul prayed he’d preach boldly for he was an “ambassador in chains.” (Ephesians 6:19,20) To the Colossae Church, he asked them to pray for him so that may continue to preach Jesus for which also he is in chains. (Colossians 4:3) But check out what he tells the Philippians:

“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:12-14‬ ‭NKJV

Paul was likely chained to various guards day and night in rotation according to accounts in both Acts and Ephesians, thus his every word would have been overheard. Paul knew no matter his outcome even if it was death! Still then, Paul would live for Christ.

“What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:18-21‬ ‭NASB‬

God has your story already written. He has amazing plans He wants you to live out to bring Him glory. God chose you long before you chose Him. He has secured your future. I am often puzzled in church setting and people bring prayer requests saying, “just pray God’s will would be done.” Well, that inevitable. Maybe we should ask that God gives us clarity and peace that whatever happens, we not forget that His will is being done. How can you tell the good news, if your life is saturated with bad news? I love this song that’s lyrics read, “Even when my strength is lost, I’ll praise you. Even when I have no song, I’ll praise you. Even when it’s hard to find the words, louder then I’ll sing your praise… Even when the fight seems lost, I’ll praise you. Even when it hurts like hell, I’ll praise you. Even when it makes no sense to sing, louder then I’ll sing your praise.” No matter the circumstance, no matter if you fail or come out victorious, praise Him because your story is already written. God’s got you.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:3-5‬ NASB

This. This is the Good News. Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. God’s plan for your life cannot be defiled. You are protected by the most powerful force in the universe. The good news rests on the power of the resurrection. “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:17) Does hearing the Gospel message bring you joy?

“In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:6-8‬ NIV

I pray you relentlessly seek joy. Know that no matter your circumstance you can still have joy, but it depends on your faith and perspective. Above all else, never keep the Good News to yourself. Tell the world, show the world, change the world. Signing out for now. Talk to you again soon. Thanks for reading.