When my husband was a pastor in South Carolina, he was asked to visit a woman in jail. “Sally” had killed her husband. She had lived in an abusive marriage for many years. After one particularly brutal night between Sally and her husband, he went to bed. While he was sleeping, she shot him. The judge said that his death was understandable but not justifiable.

Gaylon went to visit Sally and became a spiritual counselor to her. With the permission of the authorities, Sally was escorted to our church for church services. Sally accepted Jesus and was baptized at our church. I am sure there was rejoicing in Heaven.

While Heaven rejoiced, not all of earth joined in the celebration. There were those who objected to Sally being allowed to attend church or to be baptized. Sally was evil and did not deserve this kind of treatment. It was just jailhouse religion.

Sally was no longer allowed to be escorted to church services, but her name was written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and no one could erase that! Jesus died for Sally, just like He did for me. Sally deserved to hear the Good News.

Everyone deserves to hear the Gospel. Jesus died for all, not just for the ones we like or the ones of which we approve. Jesus died for all, not just for the ones that we like their personalities or the way they dress or smell. Jesus died for all.

Oswald Smith said, “No one has the right to hear the gospel twice until everyone has had an opportunity to hear it at least once.” Every person on earth deserves to hear the truth about what Jesus accomplished on the cross.

We live in a bad news world. Each morning, we wake up and see it in the headlines. In the evening, we see bad news again on the local news. And we probably heard plenty of bad news in between those times. The daily reports are relentless and overwhelmingly negative.

All around us are people facing temptation, regret, pain, suffering, failure, and disappointment. The bad news is truly bad, but there is good news in the face of it all. The good news has a name, and it is Jesus. He is still saving people and offering them eternal life in Heaven. This message about Jesus is worth sharing every day.

Let’s give people some good news today.

We have heard the joyful sound: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Spread the tidings all around: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Bear the news to every land, climb the steeps and cross the waves;
Onward! ’tis our Lord’s command; Jesus saves! Jesus saves!

Sing above the battle strife: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
By His death and endless life Jesus saves! Jesus saves!
Shout it brightly through the gloom, when the heart for mercy craves;
Sing in triumph o’er the tomb: Jesus saves! Jesus saves!