Jump Start # 419 

Proverbs 25:25 “Like cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a distant land.” 

  Good news—everyone likes that. This passage takes us back to a time when good news traveled slowly, as all news did. The messenger riding the horse, going from village to village, telling the citizens news from the king. Waiting for good news is rarely done anymore and a younger generation doesn’t understand the anxious moments while one waited.

  I think of the families that had a son overseas fighting in a war. They awaited a letter from him, assuring them that he was fine. I think of student away from home and he awaited a letter from his folks. Today, we send information instantly. There isn’t much waiting time.

  Something special happened to those people who were waiting for good news from a distant land. While they waited, they prayed. They hoped. Often whole congregations prayed for the well being of their young men in battle. Hope was anticipated. At night, fervent prayers were offered. In the day, they looked for the mailman or the messenger coming with news. Each day waiting. Until finally, news came. Prayers had been answered. All is well. Hope becomes a reality.

  You can also see the father of the prodigal son here. His son was in a far country. He wasn’t doing well. You know the father was hoping for the best. Finally, he sees the son coming home and he rushes out to embrace him. Hope realized.

  Good news is worth sharing. Today, we facebook about engagements, weddings and babies born. Photos are taken. Happiness spreads. Good news fills the heart.

  It’s interesting that the word “gospel” means “good news.” What better news from a distant land, than God loves you and hasn’t given up on you and wants you to know His Son, Jesus Christ. The good news is that God has been thinking about you every day since you were born. Now, we haven’t always thought of God, have we? Sometimes we were out chasing fun and doing things that we shouldn’t have done, yet God didn’t give up on us. Good news came. Salvation from our sins. God wants us home with Him. That’s the gospel message.

  Now here’s a weird thing, some preachers almost apologize for telling you good news. Some how they twist the good news to be bad news. Some leave church, feeling beat up and emotional spanked by the preacher. There are some serious things that need to be preached. It’s hard to talk about Hell with a smile on your face, unless you are twisted on the inside. But the message over all is good news– good news from a distant land.

  I can see families gathered at a village when a rider comes in. He immediately shares his news with them. The families jump up and down with excitement. Smiles abound. Hugs are everywhere.

  I can see when news reaches Heaven that a weary and lost soul has found Jesus, the angels jumping up and down. Smiles abound. Hugs everywhere. Luke 15 tells us that the angels in Heaven rejoice when a sinner comes home to God. Good news from a distant land.

  Think about our days, there’s not a lot of good news. Wars overseas. Economic gloom. Scandals. People being bad and hurting others. That happens locally. It happens worldwide. The paper tells the sad stories. The newscast fills the airwaves of the dark details. Bad news…bad news…bad news. Bad news is a lot like wearing three day old socks. It feels different and there is a smell. If you haven’t experienced that, go look under the bed of your middle school boy, I’m sure you’ll experience what I’m talking about. With bad news all around us, it wears on us. We don’t smile much. There seems to be a burden we all are carrying. We look tired.

  Good news does just the opposite. It lifts our eyes up. We hold our heads up. We walk faster and more lively with good news in our hearts.

  Wish I had some good news, don’t you. We do! Just open up your New Testaments and read a page from the “good news” or Gospels. See Jesus in action. See His compassion. See His power. See His love. See Him not be tricked by those who won’t believe Him. See Him reach out and touch lepers and heal them. See Him offer Himself on the cross. See Him come out of that grave. See Him reigning in Heaven. Now, that’s good news!

  Good news from a distant land—be a messenger of that as you invite others to church. Tell others of Jesus and you are bringing good news from a far away place. It’ll do you good as well.

Roger