God is Good

Rom 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

I remember a scene from C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia where the children are going to meet Aslan for the first time.  If you recall the episode you know that Aslan is the Lion that rules over Narnia and that there is a battle brewing for control of Narnia.  I believe it is Lucy that is all excited about meeting Aslan, before it occurs to her that this is a lion that they are going to see.  Lions are big and ferocious.  They have claws and fangs and they can tear a man, let alone a child, apart with very little effort.  So the conversation goes something like this: “Is he a tame lion?” she asks, “Oh my no, he is not tame, but he is good” came the response.

That is a wonderful representation of our God.  He is ferocious, jealous, righteous and greatly to be feared.  In fact, the Old Testament tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

Prov 9:10 “The fear of the LORD  is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

In modern society this concept of the fear of the Lord is a difficult one.  Should we live in fear of the Lord?  Isn’t he a loving God? I can remember the first time I went away to college.  I was living on my own for the first time and having to make my own decisions.  I was exposed to a lot of things for the first time.  By and large what kept me out of trouble was a healthy fear of my father.  I didn’t want to do something stupid and have my father find out about it because I knew that I would have to face the music when I came home on the weekend. I feared his discipline but I also did not want to disappoint him.  Did I live in fear of my father? Of course not!  But I did have a healthy fear of what he would do if I messed up.

Modern Christianity has taken on a licentious tone where we presume upon the grace of God. While we lean on passages like the following:

Ps 145:8-9 “The LORD is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.”

Let’s not forget that the Bible also says this:

Num 14:18  'The LORD is slow to anger , abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.'

He is righteous and He demands restitution.  It’s best not to get on His bad side.  But for all of that, for those of us that He calls sons and daughters He works everything for our good.

Now it may not fell like it at the time.  My children don’t like everything they have to do, they don’t enjoy doing chores or homework, and they don’t like it when I say no.  But I have their best interest in mind at all times.  I make them eat their vegetables and they can’t subsist on a diet of candy and sweets.  And from time to time when they break the rules they have to endure the discipline that comes with it.  All of it works together for their good.

Luke 11:11-13  "Which of you fathers , if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" 

He is good and He gives us the greatest gift of all, His Spirit.

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