As bad news grows, glory awaits

It has become a nightly ritual. I sit down at the computer and catch up on the day's news. The local, national, and world news is all right there at my fingertips.

I scan through the headlines.

"Man charged with killing Alaska couple, assaulting toddler"

"Marine killed after Texas shooting spree"

"Moore tornado death toll stands at 24"

Bad news is everywhere. It grows on a daily basis.

Trouble and heartache has multiplied exponentially in our world as the population has grown and technology has exploded.

We witness terrible natural disasters as they happen hundreds of miles away. We see political turmoil as it plays out across the globe. We anxiously flip from channel to channel as a massive manhunt takes place for terrorists.

This is not just a symptom of our culture's information overload. This is the symptom of a world gone stark raving mad.

These are the symptoms of a sinful world in dire need of salvation.

Horrible news is on the rise. There are wars and rumors of wars. Disastrous weather phenomena is becoming more frequent. Evil men are, in the words of the King James Bible, "waxing worse and worse."

People are calling good evil, and conversely calling evil good.

These things have always happened, but the intensity is nearing a peak.

It's becoming increasingly difficult for me to digest all the news that I purposely expose myself to on a daily basis. My heart aches for those who have lost loved one's to natural distaster. The wickedness of man casts a dreaded pall upon nearly every breaking news story.

In Matthew 24:8, Jesus said events of this type would be the beginning of birth pangs. If you know anything about birth pangs or contractions, you know the intensity grows with each passing hour leading up to the glorious birth of a newborn child.

Birth pangs are awful. It's painful to see friends and family endure such horrible tragedy. Even the pain of complete strangers is almost too difficult to imagine.

But with each moment of pain, something glorious draws near. With each tear shed in fear and terror, tears of joy await those who long for His coming.

What is our aim in these tragic days?

Reach out to the hurting. Bind up the brokenhearted. In the midst of our world's horrible reality, continue to proclaim the good news. Pray, pray, and pray some more.

Endure the pain.

A glorious morning awaits.