In our current series we’ve been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. This week I want to continue answering the question, ‘What is God?’ Previously we’ve seen God is a spirit who is infinite, glorious, blessed, perfect, all-sufficient, eternal, unchangeable, incomprehensible, everywhere, knowledgeable, wise, holy, just, merciful, gracious and patient.

This week we also see that God is good. The Bible tells us this many times, but we also see evidence of God’s goodness around us. We can see God’s goodness in the creation that he created as ‘very good’ (Genesis 1:31). We also see God’s goodness in the way he looks after his good creation: ‘The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. All you have made will praise you, O LORD; your saints will extol you. They will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing’ (Psalm 145:9-16).

And if that were not enough to confirm the goodness of God, we can also see the goodness of God in blessing humans even though they are sinful. Not just with blessings in this life but in the life to come. Lamentations tells us that salvation can be experienced by sinners who seek God: The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD’ (Lamentations 3:25-26). Similarly Nahum tells us that God gives security to those who trust in him: ‘The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him’ (Nahum 1:7).

In fact, once you become a Christian, the Bible promises that all things that happen to you are part of the good God working for your good: ‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28).

Do you recognise God’s goodness and seek more of his goodness through trusting in him?

Joel Radford.