Understanding the true goodness of God

We’ve all heard that the devil is bad, but if God were bad, too, why would anyone seek God?

If God is good some of the time, how would we know when he would be good or when he would not be good? Only if God is good all the time could we have an expected end and put our trust in him for our future.

So what does God say about himself in the Bible, his word?

God says that he is good and that we can understand his goodness. God is perfect and is so good we can’t get to the bottom of all of his goodness. That does not mean we humans can’t understand which things are good. God says that you can expect good things from him just like a son would expect good things from his own father.

God says that if you and I, even being evil, know how to give good things to our own children, how much more will God in heaven give good things to his children who ask him? God will not inflict pain or sickness on you to tempt or test you. No son would view a dad breaking his or her arm as love any more than a son would view his heavenly father giving him cancer as love. God does not teach us lessons in that way. God corrects us as a gentle father corrects his children.

God wants us to be healthy and prosper. God, speaking through John to the church, says that he wishes above all things that we would prosper and be in health. God does not want us to be sick or lacking. If he did, he would be contradicting his own word. God gives rewards and faith in his word is the only thing that pleases him. God rewards good things. He says that goodness and mercy shall follow, or overtake, his children all the days of their life.

God is loving. God says that he demonstrated his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners and while there was not a righteous one among us, he gave us his only son, Jesus, who chose to die for us. God says Jesus came that we might have a more abundant life, and it’s the devil who comes to steal and to kill and to destroy.

It’s simple — good God, bad devil.

God will not withhold any good thing from us. He already gave us his son. What would rank higher than that? Through Jesus, God will freely give us all good things.

I am a child who God loves. I came to know God because I learned of his love. I saw the love he had for me in the eyes and actions of godly men and women who took me into their church and showed me compassion, expecting nothing in return. God opened a window to me into a world I had never seen. He showed me his love through his children. They fed me with good food, friendship and, most importantly, they fed me with the word of God.

God gave me a choice. I could continue seeking him and accept his goodness or I could go back to the place from which I had come and remain separated from him. By God’s grace, he saved me when I received Jesus as my lord and savior. His love was what drew me to him.

God has never stopped showing me his love or kindness. When I desired a wife, I just asked God. He gave me more than I asked for. God has met all my needs with abundance. He’s that good.

God first gave, including his only son for all of us, and has never stopped giving. God is a good God. He is also a rewarder of good things for those who believe him. God goes out of his way to bless us. All he asks is that we believe him.

One might ask, “Why do things seem to be going so badly for me if God is all good?”

The reason is simple. All men have sinned and have been separated from God. Jesus bridged the gap between God and man by taking our sin away. God asks that you believe in the one he sent, Jesus. He says if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God has raised him (Jesus) from the dead, you will be saved.

For with the heart you believe unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. God sent his son to die for all so that all might have eternal life with God. Not all choose to be saved. He left the choice of eternal life to you. If you accept the sacrifice Jesus made to take away your sins and to put you in right standing with God, you have eternal life. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” No one comes to the father except through Jesus. Jesus said that he would not turn anyone away who comes to him. It’s your choice.

If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord, and you believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, just tell God that you believe. Tell God you accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and then confess Jesus is Lord. After that, go tell your friends.

Brian Endle is a missions director at Palmer Victory Fellowship of Palmer. Contact Palmer Victory Fellowship at pvf.outreach@gmail.com or 745-5045.

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