2018 | Week of April 16 | #1251

Are you starved for some good news? In the midst of ongoing allegations of scandals, US missile strikes in Syria, disturbing election outcomes in our state, uncertainty in many areas, a stock market swinging on a pendulum, income tax time and who knows what else, I know I am ready for some good news. So today’s commentary is devoted to only good news.

First good news truth: God is still God. Elohim, El Shaddai, the Almighty, the Everlasting, the Alpha and Omega—and more—is very much in control of what is going on in our individual lives, as well as in our families, our churches, our communities, and yes, in our state, our nation, and our world. He’s not surprised, daunted or perplexed. He’s not dithering about choices, nor is He hand-wringing over evil and those doing evil. This is GOD—Yahweh. The Creator of the Universe and of the inhabitants of planet Earth. He is working His eternal plan to perfection. Not one jot or one tittle will be missed.  To those who are His children through faith in His Son Jesus Christ, He is endlessly loving, kind and forgiving.  Scripture tells us He is perfecting all that concerns us. This God has not abandoned us or His rightful place in the universe. We must consciously remember this as we are daily bombarded with news stories. It helps to see everything with the right perspective.

Second good news truth: Great crises create great opportunities. Put another way, the light never shines more brightly than when it is the darkest. Put yet another way, this is an absolutely amazing time to be a Christian. In the midst of the confusion, we can speak with clarity because we know the Author of Truth and His Truth. In the midst of the darkness, we can light the right path. When the moral compass is spinning out of control, we can provide True North.  We can be the change agents, the difference makers our society so desperately needs at this time.    We have never had more opportunities to be salt and light than we do today. All around us are many people who eventually will realize the folly of their way. They will be looking for real answers in the midst of their despondency. We can provide them—because we have the answer—that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.  This means we have hope—real hope—for ourselves and for others.

Third good news truth. We still have more freedom—especially religious freedom—than most people around the world. Let’s use it. Let’s use it to do more evangelism, more prayer meetings and more gatherings—both in and out of our churches. Let’s not just bemoan what’s happening and curse the darkness. Let’s use the religious freedom we have to make a real difference in our communities, state and nation.

Fourth good news truth. We still have some great educational options. Thanks to the work of many people over the years, parents in Wisconsin aren’t trapped with no educational choices for their children other than the public schools.  Wisconsin has one of the best homeschool laws in the country.  We have excellent religiously-based private schools, many with some scholarship money available, and some part of the voucher program, both of which makes these types of schools good alternatives for many families. In fact, the deadline for applying for vouchers is this Friday, April 20. I’m hoping many Christian parents will seriously explore educational options for their children in light of what is happening in the public schools.

Fifth good news truth: Prayer works! It’s unfortunate that so many of us wait to get serious about prayer until we are in the midst of or sense an impending crisis. Scripture tells us to pray without ceasing, in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let our requests be made known to God. We are told to pray, not worry. We are told to cast all our cares on the Lord because He cares for us. We are told prayer makes a difference. So is God’s Word true or not? Our prayer life pretty much shows how we would answer this question. Prayer does work. Scripture is replete with God’s intervention in the affairs of men—directly and indirectly—to accomplish His purposes through people when people prayed. That’s good news in my book.

And that’s your good news report for this week! Don’t panic; pray. Don’t’ despair; trust God and His Truth. Don’t run for cover; let’s roll up our sleeves and be part of the solution not part of the problem.

This is Julaine Appling for Wisconsin Family Council reminding you the prophet Hosea said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.”