Ezra 3:11
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because He is good, for His mercy endures forever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
Mark 10:18
And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good, except God alone.
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2896 (Old Testament)
Good: good, kind, benign
From the Hebrew word tobe (pronounced tobe)
*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 18
Good: intrinsically good, good in nature; upright, honorable; kind, benevolent
From the Greek word agathos (pronounced ag-ath-os'), which means:
Describes what originates from God and is empowered by Him in the believer's life, through faith.
The goodness of God towards mankind is expressed through His mercy, which, as the Word reveals, Endures Forever. God's goodness to us is extended to us by the right arm of His Righteousness, which is Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son.
Psalm 118:16
Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has shattered the enemy.
Psalm 98:1
A Psalm. Sing to the LORD a new song, for He has done wonders; His right hand and holy arm have gained Him the victory.
Exodus 6;6
Therefore tell the Israelites: 'I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment.'
And how was the goodness of God put into action?
THE PROPHECY
Psalm 22:18
They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.
THE PROPHECY FULFILLED:
John 19:23, 24
(23) When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided His garments into four parts, one for each soldier, with the tunic remaining. It was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.
(24) So they said to one another, "Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it." This was to fulfill the Scripture: "They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing." So that is what the soldiers did.
THE PROPHECY
Psalm 22:16
For dogs surround me; a band of evil men encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet.
Zechariah 12:10
Then I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and prayer, and they will look on Me, the One they have pierced. They will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for Him as one grieves for a firstborn son.
PROPHECY FULFILLED
John 20:24, 25
(24) Now Thomas called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came.
(25) So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
Though we who are alive in this age have not seen the nail marks in Christ's hands, we still believe. Did you know Jesus prayed for you, for me, in the garden of Gethsemane just before He died?
John 17:20-24
(20) I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, (21) that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
(23) I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
(24) Father, I want those You have given Me to be with Me where I am, that they may see the glory You gave Me because You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
Isn't that just the loveliest prayer you ever heard? Jesus prayed for us to know Him, for us who had not yet been born to be born again by believing the word that His disciples would spread across the nations. And it has nearly covered the globe, yet not all nations have heard the gospel message of saving grace through Jesus Christ.
But there is coming a day when that happens and when it does, watch out. And be afraid if you are not saved. But those of us who have believed God's Word and received it into our hearts and lives have nothing to be afraid of at all. Even now, we are fearless, boldly proclaiming The Word of Truth to all.
THE WARNING TO BELIEVERS
Mark 13:9-13
(9) So be on your guard. You will be delivered over to the councils and beaten in the synagogues. On My account you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them.
(10) And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.
(11) But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
(12) Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against their parents and have them put to death.
(13) You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
Matthew 24:13, 14
(13) But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.
(14) And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
The beginning of the end begins when the gospel message has been proclaimed, declared, shared with, preached to EVERY NATION. That means every culture and subculture within nations. Every dialect, every language: spoken and unspoken. Every continent, every country, every state, every province, every city, every town, every home, every person will have heard the gospel of saving grace through Jesus Christ and will have had an opportunity to believe and receive the Word of faith into their hearts. "...then the end will come."
Don't let this message pass you by. To day is your day of salvation, as the Word says. This is a NOW message, not a later message. Later, tomorrow, is not promised. In fact, our next breath is not even promised. The believer lives by faith in the promises of God. Because God Is Good and His Mercy Endures Forever.
Dear God,
I love You so much. Thank You for saving me, for loving me with Your great love. Thank You for covering me with Your affections and mercies. Thank You, Father, for giving Your Word to us. Help us to be found good and faithful servants in Your kingdom.
You are the only Good God, the only Holy God, whose very presence demands a holy people. Guide us through Your Holy Word as we eagerly and hungrily seek You out. Reveal Yourself to us, Lord God, and give us a vision and a work to do in Your kingdom.
Help us to reach every nation for Your glory and honor. Teach our hands to do Your work. Plant our feet on the path You would have us to walk. Open our eyes that we may see; give us discernment in Your Holy Spirit that we may divide Truth from deception. Open our ears to hear the Word of Truth being spoken, that it may take root in our hearts and bear fruit for You.
Oh, God, fill us with Your sweet Holy Spirit, empowering us to fulfill Your purpose, Your perfect will in these last days before Your return to take us home, the home which You have prepared for us.
Be glorified, Father, receive glory and honor and praise from our hearts and our lips and our outstretched arms.
In Jesus' Precious Name, I pray,
Amen
