News travels fast, especially bad news. When we watch the news on television, listen to it on the radio or read it in the papers, we can easily get caught up emotionally. 

I remember February 14th, 2018, when 17 people got killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. I watched my wife cry for hours on the couch watching TV. We can talk about 911, natural sicknesses, loss of loved ones, earthquakes in Haiti, Italy, Japan and most recently Turkey and Syria; all these incidents are bad news and make us sad. This confirms the fact that we could all use some good news. 

When I hear we have dinner reservations for some fine dining, that’s good news. When the doctor gives us a clean bill of health, that’s good news. When a woman gives birth to a healthy baby, that’s good news. When you pay off your car, house or boat, that’s good news. There are many more instances of good news, but let’s take it higher.

 

The best news

When we repent of our sins and accept Jesus as Lord and savior, now that’s the best news. The Bible gives us many references about Heaven, His grace, mercy and a whole lot of blessings. Let’s start with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is “The Good News.”

Jesus left Heaven and came down to Earth where He ministered to many and taught us how to live. Jesus not only taught us, but He performed numerous miracles and healed all sicknesses and diseases that came in His presence. Jesus also took our place on the cross so we could have a chance to repent and get eternal life.

The Bible says this in Romans 5:8 NLT, “But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Now the ordinary person living in this world would say, “I am not dying for no one unless its someone close to me maybe.” This is not the case with Jesus, He laid down His life for our sins although He had not sinned. He knew the joy He would get in the future although it was painful while going through it.

The Good News is, Jesus didn’t stay dead or in the tomb. He rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to more than 500 witnesses. He later ascended to Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice.

 

The good fight

Now my question to you is this: What are you willing to sacrifice to be found faithful in His sight?

Some people sacrifice their drug addiction while someone else might sacrifice their fornication or wild living. Any sacrifice resulting in a right relationship with God the Father and The Lord Jesus Christ is definitely a good choice.

Like Christ, it is often painful to make the sacrifice and deny our flesh from indulging in all the worldly pleasures. We must fight on daily, knowing that the God of the universe will strengthen us along this journey. He will never leave us nor forsake us, always around to hear our prayers, never too busy for us, loving us with an everlasting love.

This should motivate those on the outside to repent of their sins and come on the inside. This should also encourage us who are on the inside to fight the good fight and keep the faith.

Remember the race is not for the swift and the battle is not for the strong but for those who can endure. So, let’s endure to the end and enjoy Heaven.

 

Don’t keep it to yourself

We should all get excited when we think about Heaven. This is what the Bible says in Revelation 21:3-5 NLT. “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them and they will be His people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’ And the one sitting on the throne said, ‘look I am making everything new!!’ And then he said to me, ‘write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.’”

That is the ultimate good news my friend. Use it to propel your daily motivation to seek The Lord and develop a closer walk with Jesus. One more thing: don’t keep this good news to yourself, share on social media, telephone, text, email etc. Go into all the world and preach this good news to everyone everywhere. 

 

Trevor R. Wallace is pastor of Jesus Team Ministries. www.jesusteamtv.com

 

FROM THE PULPIT is a new monthly column that will feature the writings of a different pastor serving in South Florida each month. 

For more stories like this, visit https://www.goodnewsfl.org/