Bad News - Good News

Back when I was still teaching music lessons, I had a practice with my students that I’m not sure their parents knew about. Don’t worry it wasn’t anything bad -- just not really piano related. The first thing I did was ask them, “What was your least favourite thing about today?” When they had shared that, I followed it up with another question, “What was your favourite thing that happened?” It seemed to help them get into the moment so they could pay attention in class. So, I guess it was sort of music related, at least it was significant to their learning ability.

I am studying the book of Romans with the help of Stuart Briscoe. I have never been drawn to this book, in fact quite the opposite. It probably has something to do with a paper in Bible College that I procrastinated in writing for too long. But I felt Holy Spirit inviting me to spend some time in this book. I am beginning to understand why. There is both very bad news and the very best of news in this book. 

I grew up in a religious community and have been surrounded by religion all my life. I am very familiar with Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” You need to understand that I am not a bad person. I know some people who really need to hear this verse and be convicted by it! (I hope you hear the sarcasm in there). I was pretty sure I would just be able to skim through the bad news.

Chapters 1-3 outline quite clearly that ALL have indeed sinned, so much so that there is no hope for any of us. Paul, the writer of Romans, leaves no stone unturned. The two sins at the top of the list (1:21): First – they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God, and, second – they would not even give him thanks. I’m already guilty. But there’s more. Paul talks to religious people and accuses them of being prideful in their good behaviour, doing all the ‘right’ things, the socially acceptable religious practices. Are we any different? What do we think when we have friends or family who do not attend church? Is attending church the defining factor as a believer? What about forgiveness? Is there someone whom we need to forgive? Unforgiveness is in the list of sins, as is fighting, deception (no one will know if I sneak my family in for Christmas – I don’t know about you but I am guilty of conniving ways to get them in), gossip, envy (why do they get to have people in their home, and I don’t? – It’s not fair!). As I read these first 3 chapters I was convicted. I knew I had a lot of repenting to do.

Then I read Romans 3:21, “BUT…” The best news ever follows. After Paul has established beyond a shadow of a doubt that we are hopelessly caught in a cycle of sin, he writes:

“But now God has shown us a different way of being right in his sight – not by obeying the law but by the way promised in the Scriptures long ago. We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.”

For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who had freed us by taking away our sins. (Romans 3:21-24 NLT 1^st edition)

 

This is the way Stuart Briscoe, in his book, The Communicator’s Commentary – Romans, describes the transaction of God’s grace to us if we are willing to receive it. Suppose your accountant put a pile of money into your bank account. Then, suppose he also set up your debit card so that every transaction you made came off his account rather than yours. This is what God does for us. He gives us his righteousness and puts our sin debit onto his Son Jesus Christ. Think about that for awhile. Romans 3:23 is terribly bad news, BUT verse 24 is the best news ever!!

Last week was not one of my favourites. The new restrictions on social gatherings has taken me out at the knees. We had planned for months to get together with our kids and grandkids. We haven’t all been together since this summer. We can’t even have my husband’s parents over here and they only live a few blocks away. I was in a bit of a pout. Coupled with the conviction that I was feeling, let’s just say, I wasn’t the most fun to have around.

Sunday morning, I turned a corner as I read the good news. I had taken my eyes off of what really matters and allowed myself to get sucked into the negativity of rights and freedoms and injustice and conspiracy etc., etc. I am not called to politics, thank God! I am called to be a light bringer. So, what does that look like in our present climate?

Chapter 5 of Romans:

“Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (Romans 5:1–5, NLT)

 

I’d say this COVID pandemic qualifies as ‘problems and trials’, wouldn’t you? Now read the parts that sandwich that verse. Freedom and joy and peace…a bit of trouble…hope and love and joy. We really have nothing to complain about. I’m not saying just sweep all the crap under the carpet, paste on a smile and say, “Praise the Lord”. I am saying use it as leverage for growth. Follow the pattern: trials lead to endurance which leads to strength of character which leads to a strengthened hope which leads to hearts filled with love. Who would not want that?! The best news ever is that God loves us in spite of how we act or think. His motive is always for our good, for our development and strengthening.

This Christmas season is not like anything I would have ordered. Yet, I have a renewed sense of awe and gratitude for what Jesus Christ has sacrificed so that I could have life. Not only a ‘some day’ life but a ‘here-and-now-in-this-pandemic’ life. I can experience joy unspeakable because God has rescued me from the hopelessness of continually falling short of the mark. God’s plan is so much greater than just the hope of eternity with him after I die. It is for now; he has given me the opportunity for abundant joy-filled living right now.

The good news will not seem good to those who cannot first see the bad news. It’s much easier to see the shortfall in those around me than it is to admit that I’m not as good as I thought I was. But when I saw that I fit into the ‘bad news bunch’ I wept with gratitude that God made a way for me to be in relationship with him. Those inspirational memes that say ‘you are enough’ are lying. You are not enough and never will be. But Jesus, through his death and resurrection, makes you more than enough when you receive his gift of redemption.

Oh what joy fills my soul that Jesus loves me, that God loves me and put his very own Spirit in me to help me be all he has in mind for me. The bad news is really bad, but the good news is better by far than any bad news that gets thrown my way.