“Glad Tidings” is rather an old-fashioned title meaning “Good News.” You might be forgiven for thinking there is very little good news today. The media bombard us with details of the unstable condition of the global economy, continual wars around the world, the overburdened state of health services, global warming and the resulting climate change. Added to these worries there is instability of the governments in many countries, the increase of mental health issues among the young, and so we could go on.
It is not surprising that many people “switch off” and try to find solace in various kinds of entertainment.
It is obvious to the thinking person that we cannot solve these problems. But don’t despair—God has the answer and it is clearly expressed in the Bible, His message to humankind. This magazine tries to point you in the direction of this “Good News”.
God’s Goodness
From the very first pair of human beings, Adam and Eve, people have chosen to go their own way and have suffered the consequences—mortality (Genesis 3:16-19). God could have washed His hands of humans when Adam and Eve first disobeyed, but He didn’t. His answer was to send His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to show us the way to live. He lived a selfless, exemplary life and finally sacrificed his life on the cross. God could not allow that to be the end, so He raised him from the dead to eternal life (Acts 2:24). As you will know if you have read “Glad Tidings” regularly, that can be the gift for us too if Christ finds us faithfully watching when he returns (Matthew 24:45-47).
In chapter 15 of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he confirms this hope in detail. Here it is in a nutshell: ‘For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive’ (v. 22).
This is the mainstay of the Christian hope. Read the chapter now and make up your mind to take advantage of the “Glad Tidings” – the “Good News” that it offers us!
Marion Buckler