By Rich Peterson, Church Relations
My youngest daughter’s ninth birthday is a day that will live in infamy around the Peterson household. On that day (January 4, 2013) we were just coming away from a church member’s cabin in the Rocky Mountains on our way to be with our older children, their friends, and our friends from Australia at a nearby ski resort, when instead of taking the necessary sharp right turn in the road I accidently drove straight off the side of the mountain before us!
So, do you want the good news or the bad news first?
The good news is that even though we drove down the side of the mountain 30-40 feet and crashed hard into an evergreen tree, none of us were injured. All four of us in the vehicle walked away from the accident without even a single scratch. We all had a little glass in our hair, but it was no big deal.
The bad news is that the vehicle was my wife’s all-time favorite. But with a used vehicle the only insurance I had was liability, so the cost of a replacement vehicle was all mine.
Good news and bad news. Sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it?
After a doctor’s visit we hear: So, do you want the good news or the bad news first? Following a sports event, we didn’t personally view – so, do you want the good news or the bad news?
I wish life could be all good news, but that’s not the way life works. In fact, our spiritual lives are a combination of good news – bad news.
The bad news is the fact that each of us is a sinner, has sinned and is destined for an eternity away from a loving God who created us. The Good News is that God has rescued us from our sin, ourselves, and everlasting judgment through the provision of His One and Only Son, Jesus who died an innocent man in our place on the Cross that through His death we might have life and salvation. We are rescued not because of anything we have done, are doing or can do, but profoundly because of God’s grace – alone.
I think that it is difficult to truly understand the impact of this Good News until we first face the bad news.
When we see what we really are outside a saving relationship with Jesus, we begin to understand how grateful we should be regarding God’s redemption of our lives through the saving work of Jesus Christ.
Good news – bad news. While it is hard to think I destroyed my wife’s all-time favorite vehicle – bad news; it’s easier when I know that the strength of the vehicle saved our lives – good news.
While sin is devastating, destructive and deadly – bad news; the saving forgiveness and restoration of relationship with God is available to all who believe in the Cross-work of Jesus – Good News.
I had the opportunity several years ago to speak with a young man about the terrible loss of his nineteen-year-old sister in a fatal automobile accident – bad news. In the same conversation, by God’s grace, I had the privilege of leading this young man to receive Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior – Good News.
Our world and the people in it have decidedly had their fair share of bad news – perhaps it’s time they heard more of the Good News that we Christ-followers can readily share!
Discussion Questions:
Copy and paste the link to this blog to your social media with an answer to one of the questions.
- Do this same exercise on your social media. Look back and think of the Good News/Bad News in your life. How do you see God in it?
- Are you struggling with bad news right now? Let people pray for you and know the struggles you are enduring.
- Share about a time you helped someone face bad news and come to the ultimate Good News of Jesus Christ.