Watching CNN While Remembering God's Sovereignty

Some people say that they just can't watch the news, that it's too depressing. I must confess that it's hard for me to relate to this attitude or understand this reaction. Personally, I want to know what's going on in the world. I know that some of the news can be distressing, but some of it is also very good. I find the news interesting and often fascinating. Yes, many of the things we read and hear are disgusting, outrageous, and heartbreaking. Some of the news reports make us mad. We are shocked by developments at home and abroad; and our hearts go out to the victims of natural disasters, wars, and tragic accidents. We're amazed by the incompetence, poor judgment, or dishonesty we see every day. Still, I can't say that keeping up with the news depresses me. It's all part of life, the human condition, but only a part. If I refuse to watch the news, I'm simply turning away from reality. I'm living in my own self-centered world, pretending that the events around me do not concern me or have any effect on me. I'm assuming that there's nothing I can do about them, anyway, so I just won't get involved. God has given me some responsibilities, though, as a participant in His world. I can pray about the events going on around me. I can perhaps reach out in support of those in need or a divine principle under attack. I can at least act responsibly as a Christian. But whatever the news is that we see on CNN, it's only a part of the story! I watch and listen to the news from the perspective of my belief about the sovereignty of God. Evil is nothing new. Catastrophes and terrorism have been around almost from the very beginning of time. If we properly understand our Christian faith and the God we serve, however, we need not be overwhelmed or thrown into despair by watching the news. I'm going to be entering the pulpit in a few minutes to proclaim that whatever the news on TV says, we worship a God who is bigger than man's inhumanity to man! We serve a risen Saviour who has conquered sin and death forever! We who are Christian can rejoice with genuine optimism, even in the face of human misery because we know that misery is not the final outcome. We recognize human sin for what it is; but we are not thereby made disconsolate. We know that the natural inclination of man is toward sin and self. In the words of one wag, "I am not disillusioned, because I never had any illusions in the first place." Our faith is not in man, but in God. Ultimately, God's will for His creation cannot be defeated. I'll continue to watch the news and read the newspapers. I'll always know what the news is; but some day, as Paul Harvey would say, I'll know "the rest of the story." I'll understand how the sovereignty of God will be displayed in glorious triumph! And oh, what a day that will be!