1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian GOODNESS | Page 6

Today I would like to continue on the statement that we made yesterday,
suggesting that the word “good” has been so misunderstood. I remind you today
that “good” is not some neutral, inoffensive position, but when goodness is
evidenced, it is always undergirded by strength of purpose. Let me give you some
examples:
In 2 Samuel 12 we read of the confrontation that took place between the prophet
Nathan and King David. Nathan stood before David, the king and pointed out his
sin. This took strength and courage and God must have looked at that and said
THAT’S GOOD!
When Nehemiah stood before the people of Jerusalem, surrounded by the broken
walls of the city and confronted the people with their lack of initiative, he too
must have been terribly nervous at what response he might get. But with great
boldness, he unapologetically pointed the people in the right direction, and God
must have looked at that and said THAT’S GOOD!
Jesus, in John 2, threw the money changers out of the temple because they were
corrupting the use of the temple by ripping off the people. Jesus caused quite a
stir when he pulled out the whip and drove the money changers from the
courtyard. Many people would have looked at that and said, well that’s not very
nice, but God would have looked at that and said THAT’S VERY GOOD!
In Mark 12 a woman gave her offering in the temple one day, and all she had to
offer was a few cents. The rich people in the courtyard would have looked at that
and said, that’s not much good, but God would have looked at that and said
THAT’S VERY GOOD!
I think, as a result of these examples (and there are so many more), you would
have to agree that “good” has had a bad rap; it has lost its sense of wonder. I am
firmly convinced that in God’s eyes “good” is good enough if you know what
“good” means. As God looks at your life today, would He declare certain things to
be good? As God looks at your prayer life and sees how dependent you are upon
Him, would He declare that to be good? As God looks into your life and sees how
you are faithful in the issue of spiritual disciplines; of faithful giving, of worship
attendance, would God declare these to be good? As you live your life, sometimes
in circumstances that are not ideal, would God declare your faith to be good? That