Mark 1:15
“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”
We spend a lot of time talking about the news these days. “Did you see that?” “Did you read about _______?” The news can easily overwhelm me, especially when it all seems so dire. So I’m left looking for the good news wherever I can find it. Last week I was reading through the book of Daniel when one of the verses struck me. Daniel 7:23 talks about an everlasting kingdom that is coming to the earth. A kingdom that will be “given to the people of the saints of the Most High” (ESV). Now I don’t know if you’ve ever read Daniel, but it’s a weird and wonderful book filled with dreams and drama and strong statements that point to God’s power in the world. I grew up hearing the stories of Daniel in the Lion’s Den and The Fiery Furnace, but reading through it again, the promises the book makes about what’s to come are the most compelling.
Here we see a God who’s able to do more than we could ever ask for, a God who protects people from lions and fire. Daniel works for many kings in his lifetime, and their kingdoms were messy. There were wars and famines and corrupt leaders. But still, God protected him, and because of that, he hoped in an everlasting kingdom where God would rule. This kingdom probably felt far off to Daniel, something that felt far more theoretical than realistic.
But this kingdom is far from theoretical. When Jesus came to the world, taught, died for our sins and was resurrected, he ushered in a new era. He brought the kingdom of heaven to earth. In Mark 1:15, Jesus says “the time has come… The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news” (NIV)! So often I feel like I just want a piece of good news. In the midst of this crazy world, in pandemics and heated elections, and family tensions, all I’m looking for is a little bit of light. When things feel so out of my control, I want to know that there is good in the world and God is at work and moving. But I know that God’s kingdom is at hand, even when I don’t see it. That’s part of the good news that Jesus offers us. Forgiveness of sins and salvation, yes. But also the promise of his kingdom at work, and of people working to share the good news.
Take time today to breathe deep and focus in on the truth and promise of Jesus. He overcame the world so we may live with hope unlike any other. However you need to remember that truth today, do it. Whether you feel compelled to write in a journal, pull out your bible, sit quietly and listen to some worship music; whatever it is, make time today to do it.