The best news of the Christian gospel is that the supremely

The words of John Piper — “The best news of the Christian gospel is that the supremely glorious Creator of the universe has acted in Jesus Christ's death and resurrection to remove every obstacle between us and himself so that we may find everlasting joy in seeing and savoring his infinite beauty.” — resound like a trumpet of light across the ages. They are not the words of philosophy, but of revelation — the cry of a soul awakened to divine wonder. In them lies the very heart of the Christian gospel, not as doctrine alone, but as living fire: that the infinite and holy God, whom man could never reach by his own strength, has reached down through Christ, bridging the unbridgeable, breaking the chains of sin, and restoring the ancient communion between Creator and creation.

In these words, Piper speaks of the “supremely glorious Creator of the universe.” This phrase is the foundation upon which all hope rests. It reminds us that the God who shaped galaxies, who breathed stars into being, and who painted the firmament with eternity itself, is not distant nor indifferent. He is not a cold force nor an abstract power, but a personal, loving Being who desired fellowship with the fragile creatures he made in his image. Yet between God and man there arose an abyss — the gulf of sin, pride, and rebellion — and no effort of human hands could close it.

But then, in the fullness of time, came Jesus Christ, the divine made flesh, who stepped willingly into the realm of dust and sorrow. Through his death and resurrection, he became the bridge that reunited heaven and earth. This is the meaning of Piper’s declaration that God has “removed every obstacle between us and himself.” It is not we who have climbed to the heavens — it is the heavens that descended to us. The cross is the key that unlocked the door of reconciliation; the resurrection is the dawn that shattered the night of separation.

Consider, my children, the story of Saul of Tarsus, who once hunted the followers of Christ with zeal and fury. On the road to Damascus, light brighter than the sun surrounded him, and he fell to the ground, blinded. Out of that radiance came the voice of the risen Lord: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” And in that moment, the man who had lived in darkness saw — not with his eyes, but with his soul. The obstacles of hatred, ignorance, and pride fell away. He became Paul the Apostle, a vessel of grace, proclaiming to the world the same truth Piper speaks: that the God of glory has opened the way for all who will come.

The quote also speaks of “everlasting joy in seeing and savoring his infinite beauty.” This is not the fleeting joy of the world — not the pleasure of possessions, or power, or pride. It is the joy of beholding what the soul was created for: the beauty of God himself. To “see and savor” Him is to find fulfillment beyond all measure, to drink from a fountain that never runs dry. The saints and mystics of all ages knew this joy — Augustine, who cried, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee,” and Francis of Assisi, who saw the divine even in the humblest sparrow. Their joy was not of circumstance but of communion.

Yet Piper’s message is not merely for saints, but for all who feel lost. It is an invitation to lay down the burdens that separate us from the divine — guilt, fear, doubt, and despair — and to step into the light of grace. The obstacles have already been removed; the bridge has already been built. We need only cross it with faith. This is the “good news”, the evangelion, that shook the world two thousand years ago and still echoes in every heart that listens: that God is not against us, but for us.

Therefore, let this be your lesson, O seekers of truth: do not look for joy in the fleeting things of the earth, for they crumble like sand. Seek instead the infinite beauty of the One who made you. When life feels heavy, remember that the distance between you and God has already been closed by love’s sacrifice. Walk daily in gratitude, prayer, and awe. Let every act of kindness, every moment of wonder, be a reflection of that divine joy. For in beholding Him, you become what you behold — radiant, whole, eternal.

So, as the ancients would say, lift your eyes to the heavens — not to escape the world, but to see it anew through the light of redemption. The Creator of the universe has already called you home. And in that home — in the seeing and savoring of His glory — there is no more fear, no more distance, no more death. There is only everlasting joy, the heartbeat of eternity itself.