Good News Day!!

Just as it is written, "HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!" Romans 10:15.  Remember those ads where representatives from Publishers Clearing House showed up at your front door with balloons, flowers and a great big check?  The ad campaign brought the prospect of big money prizes to all who entered their contest, or purchased their magazines.  It sounded like good news, and lots of naive  folks, bought lots of magazines, and waited for those checks to arrive.  While a few lucky families may have won something, the remainder are still waiting.

What do you consider to be good news?  Winning a prize; being awarded a scholarship; receiving favorable test results or closing on the home of your dreams?  All of those are wonderful, no doubt about it, but the best news we can receive is the Gospel, which literally translates, Good News. We, in the generations since Christ, have hit the jack pot when it comes to good news.  Before that time, people didn’t have any reassurance that they were in right relationship with God.  All they knew was to keep the law, day after day, year after year, never even anticipating a providential knock on the door.

Christ brought an end to that interminable system, and all we have to do is open the door of faith and believe.  “THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BEDISAPPOINTED.” Romans 10:8-11.  Read that again.  Church membership can’t save us, neither can  religious rituals /ceremonies, or good works.  It’s all based on hearing the word of God preached, making the personal decision that it is true, and acting upon it, individually, by confessing Christ with your mouth.  Now that truly is Good News!!  Only you can open the door.  If you have never responded to his knock, today is your “lucky” day!  “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” Revelation 3:20.  Break out the balloons!!!