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-11-
The God Who Is
Good—In What Sense?
God is good in what He has done. He is good in what He is doing. And, God is good in what He wants from man.
God Is Good In What He Has Done
When God made man, He made him in His own image. He did not make man in the image of a monkey; and neither did He make an animal in His image. But, He did make man in His image. By teaching that man descended from monkeys, evolution makes a monkey out of God.
God is good, for He looked upon all that He had made in creation, "and, behold, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31).
God planned and provided salvation so that men can be delivered from their sins and be saved. He then woos men to repent of their sins and to receive His forgiveness. He has waited long for men while they continued in their disobedience.
God is good in what He has done, and only a good God would do good things.
God Is Good In What He Does
God has given men the blessing of prayer. Joseph Scriven has written,
What a Friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged,
Take it to the Lord in prayer:
Can we find a Friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness,
Take it to the Lord in prayer.Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Saviour, still our Refuge;
Take it to the Lord in prayer:
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer;
In His arms He'll take and shield thee;
Thou wilt find a solace there.
How much unnecessary frustration, complaining, and heartache we bear because we forget God is good! When we question God, we doubt His wisdom; and when we complain to Him, we doubt His goodness.
God Is Good In What He Requires
God has never withheld anything from man except that which would harm him. The reason God has said, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," is because everyone who commits fornication sins against his own body (I Corinthians 6:18). He may contract gonorrhea, syphilis, AIDS, or other diseases. Every sin a man does is without his body, but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. For this reason God commands men to honor marriage (Hebrews 13:4).
The only things God has withheld from man are the things that will harm him. God is good. Nevertheless, rebellious men refuse to be governed by the Law of the Lord. They want no one to tell them what they can do; so they greedily rush to do those things that destroy.
Our earthly fathers know how to give their children good gifts. In similar fashion, it is the good pleasure of our Heavenly Father to give the Kingdom to His children. Therefore, when God chastens us, or when He scolds us, or reproves us, or when He exhorts and instructs us—is it not for our good? God is great; God is good. He is great in His goodness; and He is good in His greatness.