“I’ve got good news and bad news.” We have likely heard these words before or at least some derivation of them, followed by the question, “Which one do you want first?” Statistics suggest that the majority of people want the bad news first. It makes sense. Hearing bad news followed by good news tends to relieve worry and elevate our mood. However, hearing good news followed by bad news tends to provide motivation for change in behavior.

That being the case, I have good news and bad news. Which one do you want first? Just kidding. Here’s the good news. God who created us in his own image and breathed into us the breath of life loves us and desires a relationship with us. Even when we have turned our back on him, ignored him, and failed miserably to live up to the image in which he created us, he still wants us. He wants us so badly that he has worked to call us back into a relationship with him ever since the fall in Genesis chapter three.

He has pursued us, called to us, pleaded with us, and given everything so that we could be with him and him with us. He sent his only Son to reveal his great love for us. Jesus came and ministered, healed, fed, called, and gave himself for us. We see this throughout Scripture, and we hear it plainly from Jesus himself. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17)

This is great news, and there’s even more. God loves us first. While we were ignoring him, living to suit ourselves, damaging ourselves and those around us, even while we were actively opposed to him, he loves us. He calls to us, comes to us, and loves us though we have done nothing to earn that love. This is how Paul describes this good news in Romans 5. For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. (Romans 5:6-10) Good news indeed.

Now, the bad news. Although God loves us and has pursued us and meets us where we are, he does not want us to stay in that condition. We will have to change, and change is often uncomfortable or even downright painful. Jesus describes it this way: And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. (Mark 8:34-35)

That language of carrying a cross, losing our lives for his sake, sounds difficult and painful. We will have to change and rid ourselves of old sinful habits. Jesus compares ridding ourselves of the things that cause us to sin in terms of cutting off hands and plucking out eyes (Matthew 5:29-30). Sounds difficult and painful.

Following him means we will have to look at the world differently, look at people differently, react to the things that happen in our world differently. We will have to put our trust in him instead of all the other things in which we previously placed our trust: power, wealth, possessions, our own standard of moral goodness, etc. We will have to vacate the throne as rulers of our own lives and determining our direction. Instead of responding to the things in the world using the same methods of the world, we will have to see things through the lens and lordship of our new King. Instead of seeking revenge, we forgive as we have been forgiven. Instead of looking only to our own needs, we are to be people of compassion and kindness. Instead of seeing people who are different from us (religiously, politically, racially, economically, etc.) as enemies, we love the way we see Jesus love.

This will be uncomfortable as we cultivate new habits and are continually transformed into the image of our King. It may seem impossible. We may get discouraged as we try and fail. We may wonder if it is worth it.

More good news. God does not expect us to do this on our own, or to be perfect in this new way of life. Since God has pursued and loved and given so much so that we can have a relationship with him, he wants us to succeed. God has given us His Spirit to be with us and in us. One of the benefits of surrendering to the love of God is the gift of his presence. At baptism our sins are forgiven, and we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who continues his work in remaking us in the image of our Lord and King.

He has also given us one another, a community and family of people who are making this journey together. In this new family of God we give and receive encouragement, strength, and real relationship.

The good news is that God loves us. He wants to be with us. He has done all the heavy lifting so that we can be with him. All that he asks of us is that we respond to his love. As we do that and continue to be the people he has called us to be, he is there to love, encourage, and forgive.