I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS, AND....

Scripture for the day: Joel 2:1 Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound the alarm in my holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the Lord is coming, for it is at hand.

Thought for the day: We’ve all heard the Good News / Bad News jokes haven’t we? You know the ones: I’ve got good news and bad news. A man decided to learn to skydive. He went out and found a qualified instructor, took all the required safety precautions and finally got to the point of making his first solo dive. The good news was that he found a qualified pilot; the bad news was that he discovered he was afraid of heights. The good news was that he got safely out the door of the plane; the bad news was that his parachute didn’t open. The good news was that there was a large haystack directly below him; the bad news was that there was a pitchfork in the haystack. The good news was that he missed the pitchfork; the bad news was that he missed the haystack.

There is coming a day when a trumpet will sound, not just in Zion, but to be heard throughout the world. And when that day comes all the people will tremble; many in abject terror, some in anticipation, knowing their “redemption draws near.” The good news is that all who have put their faith in Jesus Christ will leave this world behind and go to be with Him in glory; the bad news is that all those who haven’t will spend eternity in a Godless hell, wishing they’d made that fateful decision for Christ.

Is that too blunt? Have I stated the truth of the gospel in terms too harsh for modern man to be willing to accept? Should I have not softened my statement so as to entice more folks to pay attention, thereby having an opportunity to convince more people of the need for Jesus? No! No! A thousand times, No! That sort of thinking is what’s gotten the world into the condition it’s in today. That kind of thinking guides every statement that comes from Washington politicians as they try to say whatever will appeal to the largest number of voters while pretending to stand firm in their resolve. Truth has become secondary to whatever is expedient and nothing worthwhile is accomplished. What’s true for our political professionals has become all too true in much of the church today as well. We’ve become so “seeker sensitive” in the name of getting more people in the pews to hear our message that I fear we’ve watered down the stark truth of the Word of God.

The fact is, as Paul put it, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

The fact is, as Peter put it, “There is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved (except the name of Jesus).”

The fact is, as Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by me.”

The fact is, as Joel said, “Return to the Lord your God, for his gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; … And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Or as Paul put it, “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us; we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For he made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

So how does that affect those of us who already claim a right relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ? Well, we can just relax and enjoy the fireworks, right? Perhaps not.

At the close of one of his meetings, D. L. Moody was approached by a critic who said, “Mr. Moody, I counted 18 mistakes in your grammar during your address this evening.” Mr. Moody replied, “Young man, I am using to the glory of God all the grammar that I know. Are you doing the same?”

Lord lay some soul upon my heat,

And love that soul through me;

And may I ever do my part

To win that soul for thee.**