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Where is the Good News?
People in this age are blessed with the most elaborate and effective systems of communication of all time. Thanks to Edison, Marconi, and a host of others, we not only hear about current events, in many instances we see them as they occur. We read, watch, and listen to news with much of the same regularity that we eat and sleep—news is part of our lives. The of conversations in which we engage every day is taken up to a large extent with a discussion of what we have seen, heard, or read earlier that day.
But what is distressing is that the world in general is not hearing the most important news of all.
How many newspapers have you picked up lately with the glaring headline CHRIST IS COMING AGAIN! None, right? And sadly, there is a reason you’ve not seen such a headline. People don’t really want to be reminded that Christ is coming again. They think about the coming judgment when you mention that Christ is coming again. And when they think of the impending judgment, they are apt to think about sin. And when they think about sin, they think about hell–and that’s not pleasant. So, I suppose we shouldn’t be too surprised that we don’t hear much everyday about the coming of the Messiah. But the news is–He is coming again.
Try this one. Over the numerous electronic beeps and wailing fanfare comes an excited voice proclaiming “Breaking news!” The voice of the news man is barely heard above the continual roar of the news theme as he hurriedly gives the news bulletin. “Authoritative announced today that the theme of Senator So-and-so’s address today in the local auditorium will be THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST." He continues, “Sources close to the speaker say that the new subject was deemed to be more important than the one previously announced.” When have you heard such a news bulletin? Actually, I doubt you ever will. Why? Well, folks don’t want to hear that kind of news. It is not pleasant to hear about the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. That brings to mind a responsibility one might sustain to Him and that could require a change in life style and that just wouldn’t be a pleasant thing to think about, so they don’t want to hear that news. But the news is–He died for you and me.
How many times lately have you viewed the tv screen as the camera zoomed in toward an empty podium, flagged-bedecked and obviously waiting for the arrival of some person of note to come to it? As the light begin to brighten, a well-dressed man–followed by two others– enters from the left and strides briskly toward the left of the rostrum. He wastes no time and, confidently he addresses the television cameras and the news people assembled to hear him. He begins: “My fellow Americans I am appearing before you today to proclaim a program that will solve our problems–both nationally and inter-nationally. WE MUST GET BACK TO THE BIBLE. We must come to recognize sin for what it is, stop sinning, and avail ourselves of the blessings afforded us in being simply Christians.” That, my friends, is an address that you likely will not hear. Why not? Is it not the best news you possibly could hear? Amazing, isn’t it, that we never hear this kind of news?
How about the housewife who, having just finished the dishes, guides over to the television set and watches the latest popular “As View Turns” program. Just as the band concludes the program with a fanfare of trumpet sounds, he announcer affirms that “Joe and Sue went out together last night and heard the gospel preached and both of them were baptized into Christ for the remission of their sins.” I doubt you’ll ever hear that on one of the popular daytime programs. Why? Well, it’s just because people don’t want to hear that, that’s why. But salvation is identified in the gospel of Jesus and that’s good news.
Admittedly, these things I have mentioned seem somewhat ridiculous, but sometimes the ridiculous is necessary to prove a point. I am fully persuaded that we’re not sufficiently impressed with the practical nature of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its attendant blessings. We need to take the good news of the gospel wherever and whenever we can. But, it almost seems that “no news is good news” to lots of folks in this day and age.
