Freedom is Good News Part 65

Why do the anchors on television networks tell us every night, with serious faces, that they have “breaking news”?  Why do they show us over and over again scenes of wreckage and carnage from some recent disaster, whether natural or man-made?  Why? They know we are interested.  They know we are attracted.  And they, of course, want our attention.  The only thing we have to offer these news outlets is our attention.  The more we pay attention, the more value they can claim.

OK, we all intrinsically know this but why is it so?  Why are we attracted?  I suppose one answer might be its just human nature.  Perhaps it’s just our desire to gawk or maybe it’s our compassion for those who may be suffering.  And compassion for suffering is a good thing if it draws us to do something – even if it is just our heartfelt prayer.

In the letter to the Colossians, Paul wrote, “…seek those things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”  In short, I can unequivocally say that this scripture is the answer to the entire topic of this column.  And when I say “this column” I do not mean just this present article.  I am talking of our entire search for “good news”!!

There are many instances, in the bible, of people who went astray from their relationship with God because they did not continue with this very simple formula written down by the Apostle Paul for us.  It would do us all some good to consider this when pulled into the doldrums through some nightly news drama. 

“Seek those things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”  The quickest way for us to enter that journey is by prayer.  True prayer takes us into the very throne room of God.  We enter by the hand of our Savior, the Son of God!  Listen to the prayer of the Psalmist, a man named Asaph; this is from the 73rd Psalm, “Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.  You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.  For whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Psm. 73:23-26)  I am not very proficient at memorizing scripture but this is one of the few I have committed to memory. 

Maybe we should take a longer look at this.  It is filled with good news and may be of help when we find ourselves becoming glum.  It would be a very good thing if you would read the entire Psalm so as to see why Asaph wrote these later verses.  This man opens up his heart to us in a very humble way as he tells us of his sin in envying the wicked.  There is a lot more to come concerning this 73rd Psalm.  Stay tuned!!