The Good News
Greetings, brothers and sisters. This is Dr. James Perry continuing with our series where we seek to
explore the deeper meanings of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Over the years, the heavenly
Father has revealed many revelations of spiritual truth to me, and I want to share them with you. This
morning we ponder the meaning of the good news.
And now, sit back and listen to today's message.
The Good News
"Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God." First John, Chapter 3, Verse 1.
Dedicated to one who overcame the beast within.
Brothers and sisters, today we shall examine the "good news." The word good in our context means
that which is helpful, uplifting, moral and spiritual, and when fully appreciated causes reactions of
joy and a sense of well being. "Good" does not always imply immediate material gratification,
though many of us are used to gratification being an intrinsic part of its value. "Good" also implies
peace and patience. If something is good than we should be willing to wait for it, as the rewards that
it brings amply justifies the wait. "Good" also implies truth and beauty, for all that is good is true and
beautiful.
Now the word "news" is easier to define. It is the revelation, proclamation, broadcast, visual
demonstration, the mechanism whereby the good is made known. When we combine these two
words together, we have at our disposal something that is of moral and spiritual value, something
that has not heretofore been made available. The degree of the reception of good news (its meaning
and value) depends upon our spiritual perception and our moral status, even though the good news
itself is absolute.
The "good news" is the news that was brought to earth by Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of the
everlasting, eternally absolute and infinite Father. This Son of God took on the form of a human
being and actually demonstrated this good news to us. And when his mission was completed and
having demonstrated this good news from the time of his birth to his adulthood, he left his spirit, the
Spirit of Truth, behind so that each of us could have an up-to-date version of the "good news." The
"good news" is we are sons and daughters of God, that God is indeed our heavenly Father and loves
us with an infinite and eternal affection. This news was presented to us over two thousand years ago,
but it was overwhelming news to some who heard the message. Jesus' associates were unable to
separate this spiritual concept from their materialistic hopes. When Jesus was resurrected from the
dead, they were so overwhelmed by the vindication of their faith and trust in him, that the event of
the resurrection replaced the saving truth that we are sons and daughters of God. The good news was
submerged. Today we still struggle with this submerged concept. It is difficult for us to accept our
divine heritage.
While we wait and anticipate the second coming of Jesus, most of us still fail to avail ourselves of
the "good news" that is personal and present now in his Spirit of Truth that surrounds our souls. We
must take our lead from Jesus who incarnated on earth and showed us how to obey the Father's
eternal command: to be perfect even as the heavenly Father is perfect. He showed us that by
submitting our wills to the Father's will, we would be transformed into the image of His Son. Thus
this transformation is to be had by our sincere desire and faith in the Father. That so few of us have
been transformed is testimony to the truth that some have not yet made this decision, still lingering
in the valley of indecision while longing for the second coming.
Why should we linger on the beach of doubt and indecision when the benefits of accepting divine
sonship lay within our immediate faith grasp and reach? Why should we deprive ourselves of
consciously living within the presence of the heavenly Father? Why should we deprive ourselves of
the spiritual counterpart of that glorious intellectual knowledge that has been given us along with the
"good news"? Why should we refuse to enjoy those glorious fruits of the spirit that are so desirable
and that everyone admires? Just because we must do all this within the mortal state is reason enough
to wholeheartedly accept the "good news". The "Good News" if accepted will lead us up through this
life on to the perfected life of Paradise. Why not enjoy the eternal spiritual reality as an added benefit
even as we travel the road of material ups and downs? Why not enjoy the "good news"?
This concludes today's message on understanding the meaning of the good news. We hope you find
something in this message to ponder and pray about as you go about your day.
Until next time, this is Dr. James Perry.
Inspirational Messages
By Dr. James Perry
Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done!
The Good News
