Here is why the “Good news” is in fact…Good news.
An attempt to paint the picture of what really went down in the salvation story
Here is a breakdown of the good news:
You have been working for a horrible boss for years.
Actually, you inherited him.
Your parents pawned you off to him years ago for a temporary high.
You know the kind.
The one who creates the worst kind of environment for you to die, literally.
Your boss expects the worst of you and you give exactly that,
because you have been trained to give him the worst.
You’ve been doing his bidding since you gained consciousness as a human being, so you do it even in your sleep. Its second nature to you now.
Your salary isn’t any better. You are raking in a debt of death every month because you can’t clear the debt your parents stuck you with. The interest was high and only gets higher with time. As the years roll by, you are faced with the reality that you will forever be stuck in this horrible relationship, even after you die, because well, your boss owns you. You literally have no choice but to work for him.
Salvation: Another boss walks into the scene.
The dream boss; You know the kind. The type who makes you wake up in the morning excited about coming to work. He makes an offer to your boss to buy you out, better pay, better working conditions, your generations set for life because he is literally the gift that keeps on giving.
Your boss puts up a grand fight. He won’t let go of you easily. He hates you, but he hates the thought of you being better with the other boss even more.
The dream boss finds a legal loophole and buys you out. Cleanly. No single fault legally can be found by your old boss to rope you back in. Except, it requires your dream boss to die. And he does. He offers his life in exchange for your freedom from the drudgery that has been your life since you were born.
Plot twist! Your boss has nine lives! (Well, technically, he can’t be put down, but old boss didn’t get that memo)
You are free! You can work for dream boss. Great working environment, boundless resources, a network of like minded people all around the world.
Now because you have been conditioned to give your worst, you are going to need reconditioning. Or else, different environment, same you and that won’t just do will it.
Dream boss gives you his right-hand man to walk you through the ropes. You are learning on the job with him by your side and sometimes you get it right. Other times, your old mindset kicks in and you ignore him and do what you are used to. But, it doesn’t take away from the fact that you are no longer working for your old boss. It doesn’t take away from the truth that he doesn’t own you anymore, or that you no longer owe a debt of death.
I know this doesn’t aptly capture the picture of salvation.
There is so much in between the lines of this picture.
Jesus saved you from eternal death and an eternally damning relationship with the Devil.
He provided a way of escape for you by paying that debt of death.
He bought you back with his blood and filled you with his Spirit.
By his Spirit, you walk in the newness of life, a new person, with a new heart producing God approved desires.
By his Spirit, even when trials and temptations come, you overcome.
The good news is simple.
You owed, Jesus paid, because he loves you.
You were dead, Jesus gave his life, so you could live, because he loves you.
The good news is the power of God unto the salvation of your soul.
The good news is Jesus.
Accepting his sacrifice is accepting to be saved from your sinful nature, the one that produces evil desires effortlessly.
It is accepting to be made new.
It is accepting God’s presence in you by his spirit.
It is accepting to be light!
