The Good News
What is your ideal world? What would your dream household look like? What would it be like if you worked in your ideal work environment?
Better yet, what is your ideal you?
My ideal me is the balance of justice and mercy. My ideal me knows the right thing to do in every difficult situation. My ideal me is loving but firm. My ideal me loves to have fun but is serious and gets down to business when it’s time to get work done. But my ideal me treats others with respect.
Imagine someone told you that you could be your ideal you and live in your ideal world. Wouldn’t that be exciting? Wouldn’t that be “Good News?”
The problem comes with the details. Some suggest that heaven is that ideal world where you will also be your ideal. So if the plan of salvation through believing in Jesus Christ provides us with a ticket to heaven and our new self, that seems initially like good news….but good news for the future. What about right now?
The word in the bible εὐαγγέλιον that is translated gospel means “good news.” The concept that men have sinned (Rm.3:23) and deserve death (Rm. 6:23) but that God came to die on the cross in order that men could have forgiveness of sins (Jn 3:16) and be adopted as sons and live eternally with him is usually what is meant today when christians refer to the gospel. The good news that God has provided a way for you to live in His ideal kingdom and become your ideal you has value for today as well as tomorrow.
When we accept God’s gift of salvation in Jesus Christ he gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit. His Spirit teaches us what we need to know. His Spirit convicts us of what is right and what is wrong. And His Spirit gives us the power to change.
This truth is expressed in Ephesians 1:3-14.
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b]predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
Many today tire of the church’s talking about the power of the gospel because they keep bumping into those who use the gospel as a way to put down others, and who don’t allow the indwelling Holy Spirit to change them. It’s not good news if it’s not good news.
I recently lost someone who reminded me most times we spoke about the good news of God’s love for me. He told me that God was a father looking to take care of His children; Longing to spend time with them, eager to encourage them, offering to help even in the most embarrassing or seemingly hopeless situations. He told me that God wasn’t concerned with how good I thought my offerings of art or service for Him are. Like a dad receiving an abstract piece of art from his preschool daughter that others might consider ugly, He absolutely loves us offering up to Him what we have and who we are. It’s His job to embrace us, empower us, embolden us, and improve us.
So, as my friend Kishore often told me, God has a vision of the you that you haven’t seen yet or dreamed yet. Spend some time getting to know Him better and ask Him to show you some of His dreams for you. The fact that He longs for those moments is truly good news!
