Good News . . .Bad News
Romans 3:23-24: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
When someone says “I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news, which would you like first?” I always choose to hear the bad news first, for two reasons: One, because if I hear the good news first I won’t fully enjoy it knowing that there is bad news coming. And two, maybe the bad news will cancel out the good news. So I want to hear the bad news first. If I survive that, then I can enjoy the good news.
Sometimes the good news can negate the bad news. For example one sunny day a man decided to go jump from an airplane. When he jumped there was good and bad news....
Good news: He had a parachute.
Bad News: It didn’t work.
Good News: There was a haystack down below.
Bad news: There was a pitchfork in the haystack.
Good News: He missed the pitchfork.
Bad News: He missed the haystack.
In Romans 3 the Apostle Paul gives us both bad and good news. First the bad news: we have sinned. Even worse this sin leads to death. But here is the good news: God will rescue us! In Acts 4:12 scripture says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” That is great news and it should compel us to act and share it with others!
How about you? Is there someone you know that needs to hear this good news? Look for pain and those in your life that are in need to hear the greatest message of all time! God cares and will rescue us if we simply come to Him.
Take some time this weekend to read and reflect on Romans 3 and remember God’s grace is enough. God is for you! This is the good news!
God Bless,
Mike