"God saw all that he had made and it was very good" (Genesis 1:31).
We live in a culture where the word "good" has become casual and ordinary. We use it to describe a decent meal, an entertaining movie, or the pleasant behavior of another person. Yet, when God uses the word "good," it carries a depth and perfection beyond anything human language can fully capture.
In the opening chapters of Genesis, God surveys the world He created and declares it "very good." This isn't a shallow compliment or a moment of personal satisfaction; it is a divine declaration that everything He made operated exactly according to His will—pure, harmonious, undefiled, and filled with purpose. God's definition of good is intimately tied to His character, and when He calls something good, it reflects His holiness and intentional design.
Human Goodness vs. Divine Truth
Humanity, by contrast, uses the word "good" in far less meaningful ways. What people call good is often determined by personal preference, cultural trends, or shifting emotions. A behavior considered good in one society might be condemned in another. A habit praised by one generation may be rejected by the next.
Because human nature is flawed, our understanding of goodness is often shallow and inconsistent. We may label someone as "good" because they're polite, generous, or well-mannered. Yet even these qualities can mask selfish motives or be applied only selectively. Scripture warns us about the danger of relying on human reasoning to define morality. Isaiah 5:20 declares, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil," highlighting the moral confusion that results when humanity abandons God's standard. Without an anchor in divine truth, society drifts toward relativism, reshaping morality according to convenience rather than righteousness.
The Nature of God's Goodness
God's goodness, however, is unchanging and absolute. Unlike human goodness, which is often conditional and inconsistent, God's goodness flows from His very nature. Psalm 119:68 proclaims, "You are good, and what you do is good." Every action God takes is rooted in His perfect character. His judgments, His mercy, His discipline, and His blessings all spring from a goodness that is pure and flawless.
When God called creation good, He was affirming that it aligned perfectly with His purpose. There was no corruption, no disorder, no deviation. Even in moments of suffering or uncertainty, God's goodness remains active. Romans 8:28 reminds Christians that God works all things, whether joyful or painful, for the ultimate good of those who love Him. His goodness is not dependent on circumstance; it transcends it.
Pursuing True Goodness
The superiority of God's goodness becomes clear when contrasted with the limitations of human morality. God's goodness does not change with time, culture, or emotion. In the end, the question we must ask ourselves is simple: Am I pursuing a human version of goodness or God's version? True goodness is not about being nice; it is about being holy, faithful, loving, and aligned with the heart of God. As we seek His goodness, our lives, our choices, and our witness will increasingly reflect the beauty of the One who declared His creation "very good."
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Hear more messages and find out more about Oyster Bay Church of Christ in Crawfordville, FL on our website: https://www.obcoc.org/
And here: https://pearlsofwisdomonline.org/
