Have you ever watched the news? Of course you have. Did you ever go away from watching it feeling really good about what was said?
Most likely not. Typically we read in the newspapers about how the economy is struggling, a child was lost, and utility rates are on the rise. The evening television outlets are not any better, proclaiming the latest murders, horrible accidents, civil unrest, congressional uncertainty and wars in various countries around the world.
I don’t typically watch or read much news, mainly because the content just lends toward a depressed mental state. It’s always a breath of fresh air when I get to read about or watch an uplifting story. In essence the news is a report. It’s a neutral term defined by the outcome of it’s content. Oxford’s dictionary defines it this way.
report |riˈpôrt|
verb
1 [ reporting verb ] give a spoken or written account of something that one has observed, heard, done, or investigated:
In almost all instances we have a choice on what news we can be exposed to. If what is popularly pumped out of media outlets is evil, we can put it aside. And really, we should. I’m not advocating being ill informed, but I’m suggesting that we don’t drown ourselves in it. In fact the bible encourages otherwise.
The following verse tells us we should think on things that are of a good report.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
One of the interesting things about the word “report” in the Greek is part of the meaning of the words conveys the that it is reputable.
I don’t know how much of the news that is put out today could be considered reputable. After all, the motivation of the media outlets is to keep people watching to drive profits. The industry has been known for it’s propagation of the bad that has prompted the idiom: No news, is good news.
There is a news source that has been printed for a long time, and is still read today. The news it puts out is good. In fact it’s better than good, it’s great! It’s the Bible. The Bible’s central theme is the gospel. We call the gospel the good news. And what better news could there be? Christ paid the price of your sins with His blood. Simple, yet infinitely profound. It’s a news story that will be running for eternity.
If you’re going to take some time to pour over the headlines, make sure you do it while putting things into perspective. The news is only going to get worse. Matthew 24 does not paint a pretty picture as we get closer to the end of time. Take some time to end with good news.
Ellen White said it this way
“It would be well for us to spend a thoughtful hour each day in contemplation of the life of Christ. We should take it point by point and let the imagination grasp each scene, especially the closing ones.”
—The Desire of Ages, p. 83 (1898).
It’s not too late to resolve that this year can be the year we focus on the good news.
