On Thursday Cheryl was driving to our youngest daughter’s house to watch the grandkids while mom and dad had a night out. On the way, something hit the windshield right in front of her with such impact that she had glass shards on her clothing. The bad news is that we had just replaced her windshield the month before because of a crack. In fact, this makes the fourth windshield we have put in her car in the 4 ½ years we have owned it. The good news is that the safety glass did what it was supposed to do and she was not harmed. Scared, yes, but not injured. Our lives are all about Good News and Bad News.

There is a Chinese parable that tells of an old man who lived with his son in an abandoned fort. One night the old man’s only horse wandered away. His neighbors all came to say how sorry they were about his misfortune. He replied, “How do you know this is ill fortune?” A week later, the horse came home, bringing with him a whole herd of wild horses. The neighbors came again, this time to congratulate him on his good fortune. The old man replied, “How do we know this is good?” As the days went on, the man’s son began to try to break the horses by riding them. One of them threw him and broke his leg. Again, the neighbors came to tell him how sorry they were about his bad luck. The old man asked, “How do you know it is bad?” A few days later along came a Chinese warlord who conscripted all able-bodied men for his private war. But the old man’s son, with his broken leg, was far from able-bodied and avoided the draft. Once more, the neighbors gathered to rejoice with the old man at his good fortune.  The story continues on in this manner.

That story is the story of all our lives. We may not always have the perspective of that old man, but perhaps we should. We can rejoice, even in bad times, with the knowledge of God’s love, His concern, His care, and His promises to us. With faith in Jesus as our Savior, we are God’s dearly loved children who are always safe in His keeping. We know all these things because the Spirit has revealed this truth to us in the Word. The more you read and spend time with God’s Word, the more you will be comforted and assured by it. We also receive the assurance of forgiveness through the Sacraments. You can remember your baptism and be comforted by knowing God has put His name on you and claimed you as His child. Each time you receive the Sacrament of the body and blood of Jesus, which joins you to Him and to other believers, you are assured forgiveness and eternal life.

Good News/Bad News may be the story of our lives, but it is also the message of Scripture.

• Abraham – the Good News was God spoke to Him. The Bad News was He wanted Abraham to sacrifice his son.
• Joseph – The bad news was that his brothers sold him into slavery. The Good News was that God used that to save his family.
• The Bad News was that Jesus was brutally tortured and killed on a cross. The Good News is that His death has paid for your sins.

Today Cheryl and I will attend the funeral of a dear brother in Christ. The Bad News is he died. The Good News is that he had faith in Jesus, so he is now with his Lord and Savior.

That is the overall message of Scripture: The Bad News is our sin. The Good News is what God has done for us in Christ. Through His sacrifice, we have the certainty of forgiveness and acceptance from God.