News Health: Not That Important

Happy Sunday,

“Before the mountains were born, before you gave birth to the earth and the world, from eternity to eternity, you are God.”

Psalm 90:2

Not that important.
One of TPO’s recurring perspectives says “[insert current event] may be important, but it’s not God-of-the-Universe important. Stay focused on eternity, it changes everything.” 

Each time we get the same feedback: “But you could say that about every headline.”

Yep!

Current events are, well, current. We must read them in their proper context: something that is happening today that has no ability to derail the eternal story God is writing. The economy could collapse, the United States could be destroyed by a nuclear attack, or yes, the wrong person could become governor of a state you don’t live in (gasp!)... and God will still win.

On a scale of 1-10, only things that are of eternal consequence for all mankind can be a 10. Sin entering the world was a 10. Jesus dying on the cross—providing a path for all mankind to be redeemed—was a 10. It will be a 10 when Jesus returns. 

The news media sees things differently, trying to reset the “importance scale” every day. Whatever the biggest headline is today is a 10, and if I’m not aware of it, I’m being irresponsible. The news constantly pulls my attention downward—toward the urgent, the dramatic, and the temporary. It trains me to care about what’s happening right now, to react in real time, and to feel the weight of every crisis as if it’s ultimate. 

Many things in the news do matter, but they’re not 10s. 

My challenge for you this week is to sit in the discomfort that even today’s “biggest” headlines are not that important—not when we zoom out and consider eternity.

What do you think?
Jason

I’ll be taking next week off to spend some more time with my family. Be back in your inboxes on December 7th!

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