Eph 1:13 In whom you also trusted, after that you
heard the word of truth, the gospel [good news]of your salvation: in whom also
after that you believed, you were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise…
Jhn 17:17 Sanctify them through thy
truth: thy word is truth. [Jesus]
1Th 2:13 And we also thank God
constantly for this, that when you received the word of God which you heard
from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the
word of God, which is at work in you believers.
Ultimate Reality is good
beyond our current ability to perceive.
The Bible, and especially Jesus the Christ assert this. And the created
world supports it. The Bible teaches that the Creator of all is merciful, kind,
forgiving, and loves us like a parent loves his/her children. He is just, fair
and compassionate to the point that, when we separated ourselves irreversibly
from Him through disobedience, He Himself paid the price for our redemption so
that we could be reconciled to Him. Our brother the apostle Paul was given a
clear understanding of the goodness of this Truth, as recorded in Romans:
What shall we then say to these things?
If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but
delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all
things?... For I am persuaded, that neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor height,
nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love
of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord [Rom8:31-32,38-39]. Nothing will ever be able to separate us from
the love of God that was revealed by Jesus, who gave His life for us.
The creation itself also gives
us the message of the goodness of God, as Paul indicates in Romans.
Ever since the creation of the world his
invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly
perceived in the things that have been made [Rom 1:20]. The very fact that we are alive,
mobile, creative, perceiving, communicative, and free beings confirms the
goodness of Truth. We had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that we are
here, on this beautiful warm earth that provides everything we need for life
and more beauty than we will ever be able to perceive. The fact that we enjoy humor, music and
beauty is itself a miraculous indication of the goodness of God. And the fact
that we are man and woman. The
protective love that we naturally have for our children. Life itself and the earth are gifts—given to
us. How can God not be good?
The Bible and the world both
therefore bear witness that Ultimate Reality—the Truth—is good. Jesus actually asserted that He is the Truth,
and that He overcame the world [that is, the dark, oppressive forces of evil in
this world] [Jn. 14:6, 16:33]. The
ongoing effects of evil and suffering cause us to doubt. But if you think deeply enough into the idea
of life without evil, suffering and death, you realize that without evil we could
not be free; without death life would be a meaningless trap; and without
suffering we could not know joy. Without darkness, we would not even need the
word “light” because it would not designate anything—there would be nothing to
set it apart. Without having fallen from grace, we could never feel the value
of forgiveness nor the joy of restoration.
We begin to see that even evil, death and suffering are aspects of God’s
perfection, giving meaning and challenge to life on earth, and preparing us for
the enjoyment of heaven.
Without Jesus’ Spirit abiding
within us we can get lost in this world and lose touch with the goodness of
Eternal Reality [Truth]. He is Light,
and there is darkness in the world. Without light, one can be lost in the
darkness. In the spiritual sense, one can be lost and blind to the fact that
he/she is lost. This is a terrible lostness [Mt.6:23, 15:14]. But when we receive Christ and continue in
His way, the Truth dawns in our consciousness like the rising sun and shines
brighter and brighter toward the fullness of the desires of our heart. We begin
to inwardly experience the peace, joy and abundant life that He promised His
followers. God has throughout the ages
encouraged us to believe in Him [2Ch 20:20, Isa 43:10]. Jesus encourages us
repeatedly to believe in Him and trust the goodness of God [Jn14:1]. In fact He says that to believe in Him is the
“work of God” [Jn6:29].
A good synopsis of the
Christian faith is: Trust God. Love people. And be happy
[blessed].
May it be so for us all.
In Christ’s Holy Name,
Amen
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