What is truly ‘good’?
Goodness, and its derivatives, are wildly subjective. Just think of all of the ways in which we use the word good in a single day. We may use it to describe our first sip of coffee in the morning, the latest book we’ve read, our child’s drawing, how we are feeling, or some of us have even been known to tell our dogs to be good before we leave the house in the morning. Are all of these situations truly good? Furthermore, do they all contain the same type or amount of goodness? If we agree that all of these situations are in fact good, and that they all contain the same type of goodness, then we run the risk of devaluing goodness. The term becomes nothing more than a blanket statement and generic platitude. On the other hand, operating in a world where goodness is an unattainable standard, or only issued for the most particular of circumstances, does not produce joy or hope. As believers, we must be champions of goodness. Both to preserve its unique nature, and to boldly and correctly label things as good. We need to strike the balance of reasonableness and joy. Not an easy task in an age teeming with confusion and cynicism. In order to ascertain what is truly good, we must look at the origin of goodness itself, God.
The God who is good
In Exodus 33:17, Moses asks God to see His glory. God grants his request by saying, “I will make my goodness pass before you and will proclaim my name before you, ‘The LORD’”(Exodus 33:18). Exodus 34:5-7 details God passing by Moses. Here, we see God proclaiming Himself as, “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin…” From these verses, we learn that God views goodness as an appropriate quality to describe His character (Exodus 33:17), and goodness is intimately connected to mercy, grace, steadfastness, love, and faithfulness, not an adjective to be tacked on to something that looks pretty or feels good (Exodus 34:5-7). All of His attributes function together to make Him God. To isolate goodness as the defining characteristic would diminish His mercy. To elevate steadfast love, would neglect His grace, forgiveness, and goodness. Author John Frame explains that “each attribute describes God’s entire complexity, not just a part of it” (Frame, The Doctrine of God, 388). God’s attributes cannot be isolated. They exist and function together in perfect harmony, each attribute offering a different perspective of God. When God created the heavens and the earth, goodness was on display. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, God’s goodness was in action. When God withholds His wrath and judgment so that many may come to salvation, His goodness is at work. The Lord God is a good God. In all of His acts, He is good.
While God does not share His perfection, or His goodness with anyone or anything, He has imaged forth goodness in His creation. We need only to read four verses into the Bible to see creation pronounced as “good” (Genesis 1:4). Creation, with its crown jewel of mankind, is good in its purpose and design. God believes it so and declares creation “good” six times in Genesis 1 (verses 4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25) and “very good” in verse 31. In His lovingkindness, He created. He created a world that would reflect his character. A world that was good. Creation itself reveals to mankind God and His holiness, lovingkindness, mercy, grace, and goodness (Romans 1:18-20). However, in Genesis 3, we see this very good creation is marred by sin. Mankind decided that God, goodness perfected, was not enough and settled for an inferior substitute of self. Since that time, mankind has been given to unrighteousness, lusts of the heart, and a refusal to acknowledge a good God (Romans 1:24-32). Is God’s good creation now ruined? Are we unable to enjoy God or His goodness? No! While sin may reign in the current age, God’s goodness is greater. In Psalm 86:5, we see God’s goodness at work: “For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.” Again, we see God’s goodness intimately tied to his love and forgiveness. In perhaps His greatest act of goodness and love, God provides a means of relief from our sin. For while we were still subject to unrighteousness and lawlessness, Christ, the very image of God and His goodness (Colossians 1:1), died for mankind. His life, death, burial, and resurrection accomplish what all of our striving cannot, peace with God (Romans 5:8-11). Through this newfound peace, we are able to once again enjoy creation and image forth our Creator.
Goodness worth seeking
Despite sin ruling in this age, there is still good because God is good. There are people, experiences, and places worth pursuing. As Hannah Anderson writes, “Goodness exists and is worth seeking” (Anderson, All That’s Good, 15). While the forms of goodness that are available to us now are not perfect, they are still good. God has provided them for us to engage them to the fullest for our pleasure and His glory. As believers we must train our minds to see the world as “it was made to be and believe that God is powerful enough to restore it to its intended purpose” (Anderson, 43). When we transform our minds with the study of Scripture, we learn to discern “what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). So that first sip of coffee in the morning? It is good. Taking a meal to your neighbor? Good. Chocolate? Yep, good. Your son’s drawing? It’s good too, and it deserves to be posted on the fridge. While these things pale in comparison to True Goodness, God, they are no less good. When we celebrate good things in this world, we celebrate God (James 1:17).
Do not grow weary in doing good
As believers, we must not grow weary of pursuing good. It is no small task to champion acts of goodness in our day. Galatians 6:9-10 encourages us to, “not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially those who are of the household of faith.” Yet as we set to the task of doing good, we face opposition. We testify with the apostle Paul that while we desire to do good, we have not the ability to carry it out (Romans 7:7-25). The evil that we do not want to do, that we easily find ourselves doing (verses 18-19). The good that we desire to carry out, an almost impossible task. Despair will begin to set in, and we may even wonder, “Why should I even try?” Sisters, let verses 23-25 drive our hearts and minds to continue on: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” It is Christ who will work through us to accomplish good. Christ, our greatest gift of goodness, will not leave us to this task alone. We need only to not grow weary, and take every proclaim goodness.Amanda, and her husband Tom, live in the greater Nashville, TN area. Together, they planted Grace Church in 2016 and enjoy rare moments of peace and quiet in between soccer games for their three sons (Caleb, 13; Asher, 11; & Judson, 8). You can keep up with their latest thoughts and musings via the Ordinary Grace podcast, available on iTunes & Google Play, or by subscribing to the Ordinary Grace Facebook page.