Perhaps, the question I am most often asked pertains to the goodness of God. How does a good God allow abuse, poverty, oppression, and all sorts of unspeakable evil?
First, I must admit to the lopsidedness of the question. While I am often confronted with this question in the midst of trouble, I am rarely approached with the topic of the nature of God when things are going well.
Second, when we suffer loss of any kind--loss of a loved one, loss of job, loss of health--it is important to remember that this was not God’s original plan for humankind. His plan is reflected in the creation accounts of Genesis where Adam and Eve enjoyed life in paradise with no sickness, no pain, and no death. They also enjoyed an unfettered relationship with their Maker and with each other. In addition, they were given freedom, the freedom to choose for themselves whether to love and obey God. It is through the exercise of this free choice not to obey God that sin, pain, and death entered the picture.
Third, this would have been the end of the story, had God not been good. God’s goodness is evident in the fact that, in spite of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, He had a plan to redeem his original intent for humankind. God had plan of forgiveness, reconciliation, and restoration through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus, at the cross. The invitation to believe in Jesus is an invitation into a personal relationship with God. It is an invitation into eternal life.
To judge whether God is good apart from this relationship is equivalent to claiming to know someone by reading his or her resume. To all those who would ask, “Is God good?” the answer is a resounding “yes” for God is love and that love is shown through Jesus Christ.
Pastor Sherri Falco
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