Bad News Immunity

SYNOPSIS: I know what you are thinking: “No bad news for the believer—you gotta be kidding!” Yes, there is no such thing as bad news for the God-fearing, commandment-keeping believer. I realize that you could point to any number of faithful people in the Bible—Joseph, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, the disciples, Paul, even Jesus himself—and remind me that they indeed experienced bad news during their respective journeys on earth. And talk about bad news—what about Job? If you were to look up the definition of bad news in the dictionary, you would find Job’s picture there.! I wholeheartedly agree with your point, but that is not what I am talking about. I didn’t say that the godly are immune to bad things, only to bad news. You see when God is on your side, or perhaps more correctly, when you are on God’s side, no matter what, you win! And that’s good news.

Moments With God // Psalm 112:6-8

You’ve heard it said, “No news is good news.” The psalmist puts a different spin on that old bromide: There is no bad news! Let’s take a look at what he said:

• This applies to the one who reverences God and relishes his law: “Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands.” (Psalm 112:1)
• For that one, good things will happen, and even bad things will be turned into blessings: “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.” (Psalm 112:4).
• Furthermore, God will not only pour blessings on the one who fears him but he ensures prosperity to their posterity: “Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.… They share freely and give generously to those in need. Their good deeds will be remembered forever. They will have influence and honor. (Psalm 112:2,9)
• When you fear the Lord, you have nothing to fear: “Heart ready, trusting in God, Spirit firm, unperturbed, Ever blessed, relaxed among enemies (Psalm 112:8 MSG)

Now I know what you are thinking: “No bad news for the believer—you gotta be kidding!” Yes, there is no such thing as bad news for the God-fearing, commandment-keeping believer. I realize that you could point to any number of faithful people in the Bible—Joseph, David, Daniel, Jeremiah, the disciples, Paul, even Jesus himself—and remind me that they indeed experienced bad news during their respective journeys on earth. And talk about bad news—what about Job? If you were to look up the definition of bad news in the dictionary, you would find Job’s picture there.!

I wholeheartedly agree with your point, but that is not what I am talking about. I didn’t say that the godly are immune to bad things, only to bad news. You see when God is on your side, or perhaps more correctly, when you are on God’s side, no matter what, you win! And that’s good news.

How so? God turns even bad things into good things for you, and while he is at it, he uses them to bring glory to himself as well. That’s what is promised to God-fearing, commandment-keeping believers in his Word. I love how John Newton, the former notorious slave trader who was dramatically and profoundly converted to Christ, put it,

“We serve a gracious Master who knows how to overrule even our mistakes to His glory and our own advantage.”

Wow! No bad news for believers! If you doubt Newton’s theology, take a moment to read Romans 8:28.

Now, again, please don’t think I am promising a pain-free life. I am not; nor is God. What God promises is to use all the things that occur in your life for his purposes and even use them as the very catalyst that will conform you to the image of his Son. From that perspective, what others consider bad news you can embrace as good news. So, in a very real sense, you, dear God-fearing believer, are immune to bad news.

Now that’s what I call good news!