As a pastor, I am often with people during very difficult times. In those settings, we regularly receive updates about the crisis — news that comes from a doctor, or a police officer, or some other professional that has the information we are very eager to hear. I must tell you, in those desperate moments there is nothing better than good news. It is hard to describe the sudden rush of relief that someone experiences when good news comes their way. I’m a big fan of good news.

When our oldest son was six months old, we found a rather large lump on the side of his neck. We immediately went to see our doctor. After examining the lump, the doctor referred us to a specialist. The specialist was unsure, so he referred us to another specialist. It was hard to sleep at night. Time dragged by as we looked at the lump a hundred times a day. Was it a tumor? Was it cancer? Would our little boy survive?

When the day finally arrived to see the second specialist, we were emotionally guarded and doing our best to brace ourselves for bad news. The doctor looked at the lump and said these words, “It’s a muscle spasm.” She made a few suggestions about how to turn his head while he was sleeping and assured us that the lump would go away on its own. I can’t tell you how incredible that good news sounded in our ears. Seriously, there is nothing like good news!

Friends, while it is true that (1) God loves us and (2) God has a purpose for our lives, it is also true that (3) sin has separated us from God’s love and purpose. That separation is the most devastating news humanity has ever received. We were made to live in God’s love and to enjoy His purposes forever. To be eternally separated from that holy design — and to be completely incapable of doing anything about it — is a statement of bad news that is worse than anything I can describe.

So it is with a glad heart that I share with you that (4) through Jesus Christ, God extends forgiveness and reconciliation!

Listen to these amazing words found in Romans 5:6-8, “You see, at just that right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

And listen to the amazing words of John the Baptist, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

And listen to the angel of the Lord proclaiming the birth of Jesus to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.”

Good news! Good news! Good news! Through Jesus Christ, God has extended forgiveness and reconciliation to all of us, providing a way for us to be restored to the glorious relationship for which we were designed. There is no better news in the entire world! Good news!