God Is Good

Jesus was the lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world with his perfect sacrifice in our place. John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. He was heading towards Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. Of which was completed in Egypt by faith. It was the placing of blood of a lamb on the door posts by Hebrews which kept the spirit of death from entering in. Hebrews 11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. Exodus 12:21-24 Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever. There met a young man whom he loved. Mark 10:17-31 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first. Now Jesus said only God was good. He would not give honor to the flesh. He also showed forth that the difficultly of entering in the kingdom of God. Peter echos this in 1 Peter 4:17-18 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? we are judged now so as to not be later. But all must appear before the throne of God. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. The sheep will be on the right hand and will eternal life. And the goats on the left and eternal punishment. Matthew 25:33-46 relates this story. Right hand represents power. Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mark 14:62 also mimics this statement. And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on

the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. God is a spirit says John 4:24. Spirits have no hands. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, Holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. He is the Holy One of Israel. Psalm 78:41, Isaiah 10:17/20, and Jeremiah 50:29 among many others. Psalm 119:68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. This is his nature. There are no defects in him. And nothing can be added to him as he is the sum of perfection. God is the highest degree or source of goodness and he extend this goodness to others freely. Psalm 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. The almighty has no pleasure in sin or the death of the wicked. This is precisely why he sent Jesus to take our place at Calvary on the cross. He justice sentenced our sinning to death. But mercy rejoice against it by the replacement of Christ for all the sins of the world. When we had no strength or way available to escape the penalty of sin, he stepped up providing one for us. Psalm 135:3 Praise the Lord; for the Lord is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. In Genesis we read of seven times where God said that all that God made was good. Genesis 1:4,10,12,14,18,21,25,31. Nobody can see the greatness of his handwork and say it was not good. Even though sin has entered in the world, it still is a beautiful place though tainted by it. Psalm 33:5 He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD. All the good things of God are available to all. Psalm 145:9,15-16 The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Matthew 5:45 states the sun rises equally on the just and unjust. He is gracious even to the wicked and undeserving says Luke 6:35. Acts 14:15-17 God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Though unbelievers take the goodness of God for granted and exploit this for their own means, it is still extended to them. Sometimes even Christians take advantage of his continued goodness. We all have missed the mark and failed. But in our failures we will not give up. As his grace is sufficient. Christians are saved by their faith and his grace and not perfect, rather they are a work in progress. Nobody goes from baby to adult in a matter of days or months. Those who know God as their personal saviour by their faith in action and baptism in Jesus name, will give thanks in all things as this is the will of God. Paul learned to take pleasure in afflictions and necessities, for when he was weak God was strong in him. The will of God is good. (Romans 12:2) We know all things work for our good when we are in it. (Romans 8:28) It is always darkest before the dawn. And when the tide turns it is almost nearly always when victory seems the most at peril. The battle at Dunkirk is a good example of this. Prayer warriors prayed the victory through for England when all seemed lost. Hitler and Germany needed only to mop up and yet their hand stayed. God put a spirit of slumber on them and rescued they needy people who called upon him in faith. The captives were set from from the proud in heart by the grace of God. As this is a historical fact. Research the matter for yourself. Psalm 31:19 speaks of the great goodness of God for those that fear him. He withholds nothing good back from the upright. (Psalm 84:11) Now not all agree that God is good even as Satan overcame Eve by questioning the goodness of God. Now men have challenged his goodness since then. Why does God permit all forms of suffering? God tells us his ways are higher than ours and his thoughts than ours in Isaiah 55:8-9. It is not expected for us to understand all things but take it by faith or trust, that he will ultimately do what is best for all. God is not the author of sin Habakkuk 1:13, James 1:13, and 1 John 1:5. As God created man with afree will to choose between good and evil. He did not make robots but living beings capable of making their own decisions. Often we all are our own worst enemy. Before creation he knew man would sin yet he

allowed this to show forth his greatness. He allows us the freedom that Satan and others say he withholds from us. The Devil would lead us to bondage and death while Christ to life and liberty. But with God nothing is forced upon a person. It's only when the point of no return does he intervene in history. In Genesis when evil was totally out of control, and in Revelations when man is at the bring of self-destruction does he jump in. God sometimes afflicts us for our spiritual benefit. (Psalm 119:71) Even as a father correct a errant son. And if we were not his this, would not be so. God is interested in the eternal outcome. While we often only look to the temporary situation at hand, simply because we are limited in our scope of vision. It happens to everyone including myself. God sees the overall picture while we get just a glimpse of it. No article, no matter how well written or spirit filled will convince a person who has already hardened their heart towards God. Let us all give thanks unto him as he is a refuge from the storms of life. He is the shade for the weary. He will give rest and peace to his people. I would invite you to accept him on his terms by applying Acts 2:38 to your life. You can taste and see the goodness of God. There is no charge. As freely he gave all things to them who truly believe in his name and obeyed his word of life. All are concluded in unbelief until they act upon their faith, and trust in his goodness which leads to eternal life and victory. He has great things prepared already for those willing and obedient. God will not force anyone to accept him. But all choices have consequences involved. God bless you richly in his all power filled and saving name of Jesus.