Don’t you love good news?! Yesterday, the wife of a dear friend told me that his surgery went really well with an expected speedy, complete recovery. That’s really good new! My wife, Pam, just graduated from rehab for shoulder replacement. That’s really good news! When you hear that a newborn baby comes into this world birthed to a wonderful, Godly couple, that’s really good news! When someone receives the word from a Dr. that cancer has gone into full remission, that’s really good news! When you hear that a recovering addict has experienced sobriety for a year, a rebellious child has sorted out his/her life, an individual has fought out of a long season of depression and despondency, a marriage has been restored, that’s really good news!.
Many of us find ourselves buried under the pile and burdens and cares of this world losing the zeal and joy of being a Christian. We forget the liberating impact the gospel once had on us when we experienced it personally. What was really good news, is now a distant memory. Apathy, hardness, embarrassment, and hypocrisy are some of the descriptions that now come to mind. Yet, there is an underlying quiet voice barely audible in the deep recesses of your unconscious mind whispering how different and fresh your life once was. Currently, you may feel like a failure, a reject, an idiot, bitter, hurt, despondent, confused, even hopeless wondering how you have gotten so far away. Do you realize that no matter your predicament, how nasty, sick, or dark your life has become, there is some really good news? God is pursuing you whether you realize it or not. He didn’t move away from you. You moved away from Him and may feel too far gone. These feelings are lies from the pit of hell. The truth is found in Revelation 3:20, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” I don’t care who or where you are or what you are doing, God is one honest, humble prayer away from you to experience His gracious, merciful love… right now! Transparently, ask Him to forgive and cleanse you. 1 John 1:9 is an awesome testament, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Make sure you understand what God just stated here. Confess sharing your sin humbly and He will forgive all your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Never forget, this is not based on your faithfulness or righteousness. It’s based on God being “faithful and righteous.” That’s really good news!
- Romans 1:16 declares, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”
- Romans 6:23 is staggering, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The really good news is God is at the entrance of your heart continuously knocking with a desire to come into your life to heal you. Just simply open the door taking the first steps towards forgiveness and wholeness. It may be a journey, but Jesus will be with you every step of the way. That’s really good news!
Barnabas Man 