how about some good news

The television trucks are still parked along College Avenue.  They’ve set up tents on the Old Main lawn where they’re broadcasting live updates of the developments in the Penn State sex scandal.  The rumors abound, and the questions continue to pile up.

ESPN’s headlines include other allegations of sexual abuse, a DWI, and an arrest.  Tim Tebow seems to be about the only bright spot in the mess.

How about some good news for a change?

Here’s what I read over the last couple of days:

As God said: “I will live in them
and walk among them.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
¹⁷ Therefore, come out from among unbelievers,
and separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.
Don’t touch their filthy things,
and I will welcome you.
¹⁸ And I will be your Father,
and you will be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty.”

and today:

Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God…

For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death.

The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience–do you get that?  God isn’t afraid of us experiencing sorrow, of us grieving.  In fact, he wants us to experience that pain SO THAT we will be led away from sin, and to HIM.

Don’t run from the pain, but take it in.  Feel the weight of sin.  But don’t stop there–never stop there.  There is a right way to process the sorrow: repent.  Turn away from sin.  Turn to God.

There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow.  Praise God for a “no regrets” life.