THE LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL

Later on, after John was arrested, Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News. “The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”—Mark 1:14-15

There we were, 2 miles off-shore stranded in a disabled boat. Noon-time soon gave way to darkness. The ocean waves grew fierce and we had water coming into the boat. We bailed constantly. The bow would rise up on steep waves and then slam down over and over. But, the anchor held. About 1am a floodlight flashed some distance away. Now we believed they would find us and we would be saved from our situation.

So many people do not understand the serious condition they are in. They do not understand the seriousness of sin and they do not understand the holiness and the purity of God. They do not understand His justice of God or His love. They surely do not understand that Jesus came to save us from our serious condition and to reveal God to us that could come into relationship with God through Jesus.

They are like we were in the experience above, sitting in a boat on a dangerously agitated sea in utter darkness, but thinking they are OK. It is at that time the light of the gospel, the good news, flashes across their bow. They hear that Jesus died for their sin and took their punishment on the cross so they would not have to. They only need to turn from their own ways, trust His finished work at the cross and then follow Jesus.

There are some who will hear the good news of Jesus, turn from their ways and follow Him. They will be saved from their perilous situation. Others will ignore the Light in their darkness and drift into an eternity without God. They will wind up in the hell that was originally prepared for the devil and his angels, the demons (Matthew 25:41).

I am so glad that when I saw the Light of the good news about Jesus that I responded and trusted Him. That was back in February of 1979— 36 years ago when I was one month away from my 24th birthday. Wow, so much has changed since then. God is so good and He has done some wonderful things in and through my life. It is a joy to know Him and to live for Him. May that be your experience as well.

Dear Father, I am grateful that You showed me Jesus and that Your Holy Spirit convinced me of my need for Him. Be please to work in and through me in such a way as to draw others to Jesus.