We got good news this week- repeatedly. It was such a lift; like the sun coming out after many days of rain.
A granddaughter passed very important tests. Young friends were blessed with a job and an apartment. Then one of our sons gifted them all the furniture they could use. It was a win/win. Our son needed to empty his home in preparation for selling it, so both had their needs met beautifully.  Then we got word that dear Husband’s parents’ home which has been on the market since September, has finally sold. . . a big relief to them and to their son who has been maintaining it since they had to move to assisted living.
All this news is very welcome, indeed. But soon my pessimistic nature tried to gloomify things. That dark side whispered, “Yes, but all good news fades when bad news comes. It’s nice now, but real life will soon flood back.” Some of my readers will be shocked by this negative attitude and others will understand because they fight similar thoughts. Fortunately for me, I have dear Husband who scolds me when I slip into negativity, alerting me to its dark power.
All this made me long for the ultimate good news that won’t fade and won’t be subdued by life. Yes, there will always be sadness, disappointment, and loss in this life. But that can’t overshadow the happiness, hope, and gain we can experience starting now and stretching into eternity.  The sunrise shines into the dark.

I just watched an interview with a young Israeli female hostage who was eventually returned to her home. The heart-wrenching story ended happily with her return and rehabilitation. But not all hostage stories have ended as hers did. She mourns this reality and so do we. Yet we look forward to a mighty Ruler who will end all wars and usher in peace and prosperity under his righteous sovereignty. This hope lights up our days.

“the Anointed One- Messiah, will be killed, appearing to have accomplished nothing, and a ruler will arise whose armies will destroy the city [Jerusalem] and the Temple. The end will come with a flood, and war and its miseries are decreed from that time to the very end. “ Daniel 9:26

“But then the court will pass judgment, and all his power will be taken away and completely destroyed. Then the sovereignty, power, and greatness of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the holy people of the Most High. His kingdom will last forever, and all rulers will serve and obey him.” Daniel 7:26-27

“For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
And you have caused them to become
a Kingdom of priests for our God.
And they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10

I don’t know about you, but I get a little squirmy when the Bible talks about humans ruling under the Messiah in the ages to come. Couldn’t he do it all by himself? And how does that influence my day-to-day-hum-drum now?

“These four huge beasts represent four kingdoms that will arise from the earth. But in the end, the holy people of the Most High will be given the kingdom, and they will rule forever and ever.” Daniel 7:17-18

“. . . was waging war against God’s holy people and was defeating them, until the Ancient One—the Most High—came and judged in favor of his holy people. Then the time arrived for the holy people to take over the kingdom.” Daniel 7:22

Maybe some of my discomfort arises from the reality that in our broken world those who have power often become corrupted by it and misuse it. But on the the New Earth our brokenness will be healed and those who reign will do so in righteous unselfishness and humility. They will rule totally in submission to the Lord who appointed them.

So how does this affect my day to day when I see wars, disasters, and the sorrows of life? I lift my eyes to the eternal One who will wipe away all evil and replace this broken world with a new one where righteousness rules. I look ahead hopefully to a New Earth where control will belong to the Son of Man and to those he gives it to.

“I saw someone like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence.  He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14

This sad world is temporary. One day it will be destroyed and a New Earth will take it’s place in a New Universe. Unlike this old earth, it will exist in perfection without end. Evil and it’s heartache will be gone forever. That’s good news!
In the mean time, we can enjoy peace and happiness in spite of the condition of this aching world and our circumstances. We have peace with God and peace about the things that happen to us.  Our powerful God can turn horrible things into blessings. Our enemy tries to harm us, but we are shielded by Almighty God. Our souls are safe in him even when we suffer. And he is always turning bad into good for us.
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20 Joseph to his brothers who had sold him into slavery.
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

We can have peace with God even though we default to straying away from him.  The Temple has been destroyed so no one offers animal sacrifices for sins any more. In fact, a lot of people deny they sin, so they don’t even feel a need to be forgiven. But the Scriptures tell a different story. “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all…my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins.” Isaiah 53:6,11

“But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are- Jew or Gentile.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.” Romans 3:21-25

All images created with Ai.  Some with hours of my effort also.