The Merciful And Majestic Goodness Of God

God is the source and perfection of all good (2 Thess 1:11; see (Psalm 23:6; 68:10; 73:1; 119:65; 145:9; Lam 3:25; Luke 6:35; Rom 2:4; 11:22; Eph 2:7; Titus 3:4)). His goodness is the foundation of Scripture and is praised in the Psalms (25:8; 34:8; 86:5; 100:5; 118:1; 136:1; 145:9). Jesus affirms the His goodness when speaking to the rich young ruler (Matt 19:17; Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19). The Bible declares to all humankind, "Taste and see that the Lord is good!"' (1 Peter 2:3; also Psalm 34:8)

The Old Testament's primary words for good/goodness come from the Hebrew word ‘towb,’ which means pleasant, agreeable. In the Old Testament, God's goodness towards His people and their goodness in response is based on the covenant between them. God's appeals to His people to return to the covenant relationship finds expression in a call to simple goodness (Micah 6:6-8).

Human goodness is modeled on divine goodness, which involves proper behavior that expresses itself in kindness and other praiseworthy qualities, includes avoiding evil (Matt 5:48). When people are good, they behave decently toward each other as a result of God's goodness towards them. The general biblical words for "good/goodness" include this idea of right behavior. However, the idea is often expressed by means of a more specific term like ‘upright/uprightness’ or ‘righteous/righteousness.’

The Light of the World

"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12 ESV)

When Jesus declared He was the light of the world, He was also proclaiming that He was the Creator God of the universe and that only in Him is found all perfection, holiness, truth, peace, goodness, blessing, joy, and eternal life!

Jesus created the sun, moon, sky, earth, oceans, creatures, and us! Within the known universe, all things are held together by the power of light. It was essential to create these things since His design requires the force of light to bind particles together. Jesus proclaimed that He is the Creator and sustainer of every sun in the entire universe and everything in existence, including the cellular structure of the human body.

"Then God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. And God saw the light was good." (Gen 1:3-4 NLT)

In Quantum Physics, the force that holds the quanta particles, atoms, and molecules together is light. Light keeps electrons tied to the nuclei of atoms and atoms bound together to make molecules and objects. All forms of matter are made up of solidified light.

Everything depends on Jesus for moment-by-moment preservation. Through Him, every human physically can "live, and move, and have (their) being" (Acts 17:27-28 NIV). Without Him, every created thing would cease to exist.

Because Jesus is light, He lives in “unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see" (1 Tim 6:15-16). He even “wraps Himself in light as with a garment" (Psalm 104:2 NIV). Light is the place where safety and security are found and is a symbol of God’s grace. The Bible says that:

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17 NIV).

Let’s unpack this verse

V17 “Every” (Gk: pas = each and every part(s) in totality)

- “good” (Gk: agathos = intrinsically good and honorable because it originates from God)

- “gift” (Gk: dosis = the act of giving a gift)

- “perfect” (Gk: teleios = having reached its end, consummated, complete by fulfilling the necessary process)

- “gift” (Gk: dóréma = a bestowment, to present as a gift or honor; to confer an award)

- “from above” (Gk: anóthen = from a higher place, from the beginning, from Heaven)

- “coming down” (Gk: katabainó = to go down, descend, sent down)

- “Father” (Gk: patér = originator, imparter of life)

- “of lights” (Gk: phós = brilliant illuminating light) [where the word ‘phosphorous’ comes from]

- “variation” (Gk: parallagé = change, fickleness, variableness)

- “shifting” (Gk: trope = turning, change, mutation)

- “shadow” (Gk: aposkiasma = a shadow / obscuration created by turning)

The verse tells us that God’s intention, motivation, and action in giving to us is always good because He is love and only wants the best for us! Every completed gift will always be good. Sometimes we don’t see the goodness of God in our lives because we don’t see the completed gift – just see a part of it.

Verse revised: “Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of shifting.” (BLB)

In the promised future New Jerusalem, the inhabitants who serve God will never need the Sun for its light because;