By: Larry Young

The constant daily drumbeat of bad news in the media or even the constant flow of Christian warnings we preach and publish can feel overwhelming at times. In a 1976 movie titled “Network”, a revered TV news anchor was overwhelmed by the constant bad news and simply went nuts during his own live newscast, yelling “I’m mad as hill and I’m not going to take it anymore”. He urged his audience to throw open their windows and tell the whole world the same thing. That instantly went viral. Nearly everyone who saw or heard about that newscast threw open their windows, yelling that same phrase! National television ratings for that newscast and network went through the roof. Instead of being fired, that news anchor was encouraged to amplify his rant night after night. That movie came out 50 years ago, but it’s assuredly more relevant today than it was back then.

On the “Christian” side of things, there is another drumbeat, filled with urgent warnings about End Times Events and getting our lives synchronized with Christ before the door of mercy is forever shut. As a writer within the church, I myself am guilty of promoting those feelings of being overwhelmed, because I detailed just how narrow the road to the kingdom is. But Jesus also told us: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24: 14).

So what does it really mean to preach the gospel to all the nations? Does it mean we get out there and unroll a long checklist of behaviors and beliefs that people must swallow…or else they get the chopping block? Absolutely NOT. The word “gospel” directly translates as “good news”. Well then, what is the good news? “It refers to the joyous announcement of salvation through Jesus Christ—specifically His life, death, and resurrection to save humanity from sin and reconcile them to God.” (thenivbible.com)

Are we as a church and as a denomination fulfilling Jesus’ joyous announcement to the nations? Or are we primarily pushing other stuff?… or are we just adding more layers of stuff for folks to feel overwhelmed, guilty, or falling short…about? Over the years, I have asked my Sabbath School classes this question: “If a bomb were to be dropped on us here right now, how many of you really believe that the next thing you’d see is Jesus coming back to take you up with Him?” The last time I asked my class that question, only one person raised his hand… and he was a visitor! I haven’t dared to ask that question ever again. Folks, we assuredly have our doctrine straight, and our outreaches look great on paper, but is there any joyous announcement of salvation going on?

For a moment, let’s talk about Godly joy. Jesus paid completely for your list of sins by dying in your place. At the moment your heart was touched and changed by His forgiveness and free offer of eternal life, your heavy load of past sins weighing on you was lifted. At the moment you understood that Jesus really loves you, and that He has the Keys to His eternal kingdom, and that you are invited to join Him there, there was joy in your heart. As fallen human beings, we need to relive that joy daily, because we don’t have any guarantees in this evil-infested world beyond today. If you won the lottery and you were guaranteed not to be bothered by people coming after you or your winnings, could you get excited enough to raise your hand? Winning the lottery is less than nothing compared to what Jesus has in store for you in His kingdom, but only one visitor raised his hand in my Sabbath School class!

You will experience unimaginable JOY at being reunited with family and friends in Heaven… forever. You won’t have to deal with sin or sorrow or death ever again. God said He will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). Your love will be complete in Jesus, and He will sit down with you and eat with you and answer all your questions. You will have 1,000 years to examine the records of the lost, and know that God’s judgments were not only just, but merciful and longsuffering and true. You will have a home tailored just for you in the Heavenly City, and you can visit other places, people, and planets by just thinking about being there. Can you imagine the incredible beauty surrounding you? We aren’t even able to conceive what God has in store for us. You will experience JOY that builds upon happiness, and love that is never cut short or diminished. You will never get sick or be in pain ever again, and you won’t need to sleep, because you will have full access to the tree of life and the living waters for eternity. We have several cats and one dog right now, so I have to wonder how many cats, dogs, lions, and tigers we can have in Heaven? We have all of this to be joyful about and for the eternal future, and to share that vision with others. This is really Great News!