25 Nov 2023
Oftentimes, we hear some brethren expressing, ‘God is good’, when asked how they are getting along. But what does this truly mean, for those who shared this expression, and for all of us, children of God?
It may be helpful to consider the meaning of this expression from the Bible’s point of view:
God’s sovereign redemptive love is one facet of the meaning of God’s goodness (Psalm 100:5; Mark 10:18) – this is His goodness and kindness that touches all His creatures and that ought to lead all sinners to repentance.
Other aspects of this goodness are the mercy and compassion that shows kindness to persons in distress by rescuing them out of trouble and the long-suffering, forbearance, and slowness to anger that continue to show kindness toward individuals who have persisted in sinning (recall how many times God sent prophet after prophet to correct Israel in the Old Testament and yet they returned to sin again and again).
However, the supreme expression of God’s goodness is still the amazing grace and inexpressible love that show kindness by saving sinners who deserve only condemnation: saving them, moreover, at the tremendous cost of Christ’s death on Calvary. Whenever we doubt His love and goodness, look at “Calvary” – as one hymn writer wrote: ‘Amazing grace, how can it be, that Thou my God should die for me’.
God’s faithfulness to His purposes, promises, and people is a further aspect of His goodness and praiseworthiness. Humans lie and break their word; God does neither. Even in the worst of times, it can be said, “His mercies never come to an end..great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
God’s ways of expressing His faithfulness are sometimes unexpected and even perplexing and bewildering – sometimes looking more like ‘unfaithfulness’ in the short term – but the final testimony of all who walk with Him through life’s ups and downs is that “not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed” (Joshua 23:14).
Indeed, our faith and hope can rest on the solid ground of God’s faithfulness and gracious goodness!!
Perhaps, next time, when we say, “God is good”, we can remember what it truly means in all its facets and implications.