Like many of you, I am a TV news watcher. I try to catch it daily on the radio, via the Internet, or in newspapers and magazines. While I don't consider myself a news junkie, I do like to stay informed, especially as one who believes world events announce the nearness of Jesus' return.
More and more, it seems that there really is nothing new or good about the news. It's the same old story told over again — the story of man's inhumanity to man, humanity's struggle against nature and the latest toll in the war.
The repetition comes in different shapes and forms, sometimes with great nauseating detail. The sorrowful and outlandish events reoccur with new names, faces and places and an escalating tone of depravity, but really it's just a repeat of the sad story of our fallenness. It is not new.
None of this is surprising to students of the Bible. After all Paul told Timothy that "in the last days perilous times shall come" (2 Timothy 3:1).
Paul went further: "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" (2 Timothy 3:13).
While every news story doesn't portray all the participants as evil, we do know that these last days will be filled with unprecedented peril to the church and Christians. Paul's list enumerates a plethora of evils, and while I cannot read Paul's mind, it seems to me that he is alerting Timothy, and us, about the encroachment of evil into the church itself.
Paul warns against having a "form of godliness while denying its power." The power of the gospel, secured by the life, death and victory of Jesus, is revealed in the grace of God. How can we live in this world without being overcome by the wickedness? I think God's gift of grace is the answer.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not by works lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
We are saved by the grace of God. Keeping the Law does not save us. The Law serves as a point of reference. It shows, it tells, it teaches and it informs, but it doesn't perform. It reveals the character of God, but the Law doesn't itself rescue us from sin.
We cannot earn salvation; we earned death. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23).
Grace is more than the free will forgiveness of God that makes us acceptable to His Holiness. It is didactic in nature — it teaches us to yield to God. Grace empowers, energizes, enthuses and gives us the ability to live for God.
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12).
"It is not merely God's mercy and willingness to forgive; it is an active, energizing, transforming power to save" (SDA Bible Commentary, v. 6, p. 504).
"Divine grace is the great element of saving power" (Ellen G. White, Gospel Workers, p. 70).
So, while we hear and see the bad news in media reports, we live with the knowledge of Christ's empowerment by grace. Living in the grace of God makes us ready for whatever happens, because we are focused on God. And since God's transforming work is continuous, the gospel is always good news.
