IS GOD THAT GOOD?

Maybe you assess God’s goodness from a human perspective and draw a conclusion that sounds like this: “When I get to heaven, then everything will be great and I will experience His goodness. But right now, while I live on this earth, not so much…” Yet, Romans 5:3 (Amp) says “…let us be full of joy now!” And Philippians 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always.” These words were not meant to confirm a joy that awaits you only when you get to heaven, but a joy and a rejoicing here on earth. But how can that be?

Continuing in Romans 5:3 we are instructed this way: “…let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings” as this pressure will put patience to work, cause unswerving endurance, and exercise our faith like a muscle causing it to mature, leading us to a confident hope that will never disappoint us because we understand God’s love. His love never abandons us, leaving us to flounder upon this earth without the necessary provision. You may have an experience that seems contrary to this truth, but it is by your revelation of Jesus Christ that an experience will occur (1 Peter 1:13). It is by revelation of Him that hope comes and understanding of His divine favor which is available to you while you live on earth, and not just reserved for you when you go to heaven (1 Peter 1:13).

Revelation of Jesus, knowledge of Him, renews your mind; it causes you to be sober-minded (Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 1:13). This truth shows you Who Jesus is and what He accomplished for you. He is your living hope (1 Peter 1:3), the One Who provided an inheritance for you the moment you believed in Him as your Savior, Son of God. His provision was provided by the work of the cross. It didn’t start when you believed in Him, but it became available to you the moment you believed. The provision was always there, provided by grace and received through faith Romans 5:2). God’s goodness is for all mankind, for whoever will believe in Him.

For every circumstance you have or will experience, you have been equipped with a full supply of God’s provision. You decide, do you have enough for your victory?

• The Holy Spirit has been given to you (Romans 5:5: Galatians 4:6).

• You have “the Spirit Who is from God that you might know the things that have been freely given to you by God” (1 Corinthians 2:12).

  Because your spirit is one with His Spirit, you possess His divine nature in your spirit (2 Peter 1:4). His divine nature includes a perfect supply of love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. The work of the Holy Spirit in you accomplishes these characteristics (Galatians 5:22,23) in and through you.

• Because you possess His Spirit you possess His immeasurable and unlimited power; this is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. This is a power that the enemy must submit to; he cannot resist! (Ephesians 1:19,20; Psalm 91:1 (Amp); Psalm 66:3).

• You possess “the very life of Christ Himself” (Ephesians 2:5). You are just like Jesus in your spirit now while you live on the earth (1 John 4:17).

  God is the treasury of all wisdom and knowledge, and you are one with Him (Colossians 2:3).

• “It pleased (the Father) that all the divine fullness (the sum total of divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently” (Colossians 1:19 Amp), and you are one with Jesus Who possesses the fullness of God!

God is so good that He desired to share His nature, characteristics, and ability with you. God is so good that He gave you His authority in the name of His Son Jesus, to command and to speak (Philippians 2:9,10; John 14:13,14). In summary, everything you need to live a godly life on this earth has been provided to you (2 Peter 1:3). This is why by His equipping He can say to you:

• You can do all things I have called you to do because I strengthen and empower you to fulfill My purpose (Philippians 4:13).

• “Be anxious for nothing” (Philippians 4:6).

• Signs and wonders will follow those who believe (Mark 16:17-18).

• Speak to your mountain, your problem, believe, and it will be moved (Mark 11:23,24).

• “…if you believe you will see the glory of God” (John 11:40).

• “…you will lay hands on the sick and they will recover” (Mark 16:18).

This is God’s truth. This is your full equipping as a child of God. Participating in the gifts of His grace is a journey of discovery as you grow in intimacy with Him, renewing your mind to the Word of God which confirms His promises to you.

By revelation of Jesus, by knowledge of Him, you gain understanding of the Father’s provision, and His gift of grace and you participate in His blessing. He is not holding back anything from you. In fact, it honors Him when your life reflects His life and His goodness because you believe and therefore participate in the abundant life He has prepared for you (John 10:10, John 1:16). This is how Jesus lived on the earth, revealing the Father, revealing His love, revealing His power. Knowing you possess all that He is by His goodness provides a foundation of hope, and is the first step to trusting, expecting, enduring, and exercising your faith to receive what He has already provided for you. Yes, God is that good!