More Good News

            I recently had some blood work done and waited anxiously for the report. The report came that the kidneys were holding their own and were not any worse than before. That was good news for that day anyway. There are those times in life when you expect bad news. When the phone rings and you are in bed, and you are a pastor, you often expect it to be bad news. After all, who would call you after 0:00 pm? Someone would usually be in the ER of some hospital somewhere and who needed spiritual assistance. When you receive a telegram, you expect it to be bad news. In our day, one seems to have the idea that whatever test we had done is going to be bad news. It just seems that is the way of life. We really don't expect to hear about a long lost uncle that left us a small fortune and a vacation home in the Bahamas. The network media also realizes that most of their news is bad news about something. This is brought out by the fact that they try to include one story at the end of the newscast that is good like the little girl that gave the earnings of her lemonade stand to a special charity. Our human nature often looks to receive more bad news then it does good news.  In some cases, we feel that if we expect to receive bad news, then any news that isn't bad is in reality, good news.  Still, you sometimes get the jitters when you receive a special piece of mail that is insured or registered or a private letter from the IRS.  Our reaction is, “Now what do they want?” There is a word however, in the New Testament, however, which mean "good news." It is the word "gospel." So, when Paul used the word in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, he was telling the people that he had some "good news" for them. That is what the word actually means. Paul's good news was what Christ had done. "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according tot he Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

             Now, that's "good news." It means that we have hope in this world. It means that we not only have hope in this world, but hope for the future. With the payment already made for our sins, it means that we too can have eternal life. We will be able to go to be with God when we die and we will be with Him forever. This is truly good news for us. So, while you may think that you don't ever receive much good news, think of the word "gospel" as it is used in the New Testament. Whenever you see it, you know that you have received some "good news."   Realize that not all news is bad news.  Some of it really is good.    Praise God today for the Good news that He has for us in His plan of salvation. The Gospel however, is the only real “good news.”