The Good news about Jesus is timeless; although old, it’s new, fresh and generates excitement when coming to the ears of one for the 1st time. It should likewise continue to stimulate us throughout our lives.
Why?
The Good News about Jesus has eternal repercussions. The greatest news story ever told in our country, whether it be in regards to a particular war that was fought and won that resulted in freedom, some medical discovery that saved millions or something else while I don’t discredit that news for a moment, and have no problem with remembering and honoring those days, that news, while good, provided humanity with temporal benefits and pales in comparison to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel of Jesus provides us with eternal benefits. That simple yet profound fact distinguishes the Good about Jesus from all other news deemed good that one may receive. (1st Peter 1:18-23)
What then should be our response to sharing this news?
On October 21st 1805 in the Battle of Trafalgar the British fleet led by Horatio Nelson defeated the combined forces of Spain and France. Had the British fleet been defeated it would have cleared the way at this time for a Napoleon led British invasion, making this a very significant victory. A young naval lieutenant was chosen to be the dispatch rider to deliver this good news. He considered it a great honor to have been chosen and with great diligence raced to his audience delivering this news with great fervor. While this was good news the young dispatch rider was also forced to deliver the sad news that admiral Horatio Nelson (who many referred to as Lord Nelson) died in the battle that brought victory. This being true, even though it was good news that victory had been attained, there was a sense of sadness because their Lord had died in battle. Our Lord likewise died in battle in order to provide us with victory however unlike Horatio Nelson our LORD did not stay in the grave but rather was risen again the 3rd day for our justification, thus providing us with an eternal victory. That’s Good News!!! In Matthew 28:5-6 the angel of LORD said to the women who came to the tomb of Jesus, “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come; see the place where the Lord lay.” That’s Good News!!!
The young naval lieutenant chosen to deliver the news of victory in the fall of 1805, with honor, rode with great fervor to deliver a message that revealed temporal victory. We should consider it an even greater honor to deliver the Good News about Jesus and with great resolve race to our audience to impart the Gospel of Christ. The message we have reveals eternal victory and there is no element of sadness because our Lord lives. (1st Corinthians 15:55-58)