Years of debating and speaking in speech competitions turned me into a news junky. I still want to know what is happening in the world, but am tired of all the bad news. It seems the goal is to set forth a series of terrible and regrettable events that will send the viewers into depression. I am thankful to say the Bible is filled with the remedy, truth which encourages.
God’s children know our God is alive. Genesis 1:1 tells us God created the heavens and earth. Paul told the philosophers on Mars Hill that the God who made everything in the world is the one in whom “we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:24, 28). The apostle describes the Son of God as the one in whom “all things consist,” or are held together in an orderly fashion. We can know our God is alive because the world is still holding together.
Christians are assured our Savior washed us. The seven churches of Asia heard Jesus described as the one “who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5; 7:14). Titus, Paul’s Gentile son in the faith, learned we are saved through the washing of the new birth (Titus 3:5).
Things on earth seem hopeless at times. Christ’s followers can always hope in their promised salvation. John’s purpose for writing his first epistle was that those believers in Jesus’ Sonship might know they have eternal life. The promise is conditioned upon remaining in the things we heard at the start of our faithful journey. Our hope is maintained when we continually purify ourselves to remain pure like Jesus. Purity is maintained so long as we walk in the light where God dwells (1 John 5:13; 2:24-25; 3:1-3; 1:7).
Christians can hear bad news and still be encouraged. Our living God sent has provided eternal blessing for all who are in his Son.
Gary C. Hampton