What people want more than anything right now is change. Coronavirus. Quarantine. Stay at home. Masks. Social Distance. Racism. Riots. Sex Trafficking. Gun violence. Defunding police. Murder. Closed schools. Job loss. Sickness. Death. Make it stop!
We are desperate for change.
I remember when I was a young pastor’s wife in a tiny Texas town and I got really frustrated because I started to feel like every sermon that my dear sweet husband preached was the same. Every single sermon was centered on the gospel. When would he get to the uplifting, encouraging stuff? I was waiting for him to preach on marriage and family and do some sermons with some catchy titles and video illustrations that I could apply to my life. Why couldn’t he do something to try to attract more people – we needed something catchy, right?
I also remember coming to this realization:
I was totally wrong.
Every sermon was about the gospel…every single one.
I’ve since learned that wasn’t by accident. I’ve been listening to his preaching for 15 years now and guess what?
Every sermon is about the gospel…every single one.
Let’s make sure our definitions match up. The gospel is the good news that Jesus came to save sinners, to bring us from death to life. That’s you and that’s me! The truth is that our sin leaves us in a very desperate place, totally separated from God. In fact, it’s worse than that. Our sin leaves us dead. This is really bad news. So of course, we needed some good news. We need something that will offer us a chance to live. That good news, that gospel, is Jesus.
It changes every life, every heart, every family, every marriage, every relationship, every church, every story, every career, every sickness, every disease, every political view, every sermon, every book, every blog, every worldview. The gospel changes everything.
Here’s the problem.
Unfortunately, most of us are looking everywhere but the gospel for answers. When we’re confronted with issues of racism and coronavirus and child trafficking, we are looking for things to do. We look for articles and books to read, sermons and podcasts to listen to, wisdom from friends and experts to take into consideration. None of these things are bad in themselves. Some are helpful, especially if they point us to the gospel.
But the gospel is not something we can do. It’s something Jesus has done. We’ve got to let go of our constant search for other answers if we ever want to see the change the gospel brings. But for too many of us, “the gospel” seems like some vague, far-off platitude, not a real answer for real life. So we look elsewhere, needing change and never finding it.
The Bible explains it this way: We are always learning, but never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7).
How can we go from needing change to changed?
First, remember that the change the gospel brings will start with you. You desire to see systems change, governments change, other people change, but those things will only change one person at a time. This is not a cliché. This literally means that you will have to allow the gospel to change your heart. Are you ready to let it change you before it changes anything else?
Then, remember that the gospel will change you in the middle of your circumstances. We’re pretty much guaranteed suffering in this life (John 16:33). Gospel-vision helps us take our eyes off our pain and see that our suffering helps us identify with Jesus (Philippians 3:10). So don’t expect the gospel to be a magic pill for your circumstances.
Finally, remember to look for the change the gospel brings. When our eyes are fixed on the unchanging circumstances that swirl around us, it’s easy to miss the gospel.
You’ll see it when you look for it.
How much time do you spend watching the news? On social media? Talking over important issues with friends? Listening to sermons about hot-topic issues? How much time do you spend reading books and articles and blogs?
Instead, try this:
- Preach the gospel to yourself. Start with Ephesians 2:1-10. Read it every single day. Read it slowly. As you read through each phrase, thank God for what He has done for you. Try reading through this every day for a week and watch your heart begin to change.
- Ask God to give you a gospel perspective on each of the issues that take up space in your heart. Don’t just ask it once. Pray fervently for gospel-eyes to see these issues that matter most to you. Plead with him to help you see these things based on the good news that Jesus came to raise us out of our sin and death and into new life. Then start to use your new eyes.
- Read Scripture with the gospel in mind. Scripture isn’t your guide to marriage or your handbook on racial reconciliation. It isn’t there just to help you feel better or encourage you. God’s Word is there to tell you the story of how God has brought you from death to life. Read it that way.
- Begin to incorporate “gospel talk” into your conversations, especially with other believers. Sometimes we think that the gospel is just for the one (scary) conversation where you “share the gospel” with someone and they respond. Imagine how our lives would change if we would have gospel-centered conversations with other believers instead of the conversations we’ve been used to having! Remind your family and friends about the gospel consistently. Once you begin to see the good news of salvation all around you, point it out so others can see too.
The gospel really does change everything. Just look.
