Topic: He’s The Author Of Everything Good [Sunday, July 23rd]
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning (James 1:17).
Everything we read in the Word about the nature of our heavenly Father is consistent; there’s no evil or darkness in Him at all. You might then want to ask, “How about the words of the prophet Isaiah about God? It says, “…I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things” (Isaiah 45:6-7). Could this be a contradiction? Did God really create evil?
First, you need to understand the style and manner of communication of the prophets in the Old Testament, and the extent of the revelations granted to them. The prophets knew nothing about Satan except in figurative speech, because there was no revelation of him. To them, everything that happened, whether good or evil, came from God.
Jesus made an enlightening statement to the Pharisees in Matthew 19:8. He said, “…Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.” In other words, that commandment came from Moses, not God. If you really want to know God, His character, nature, and ways of doing things, then go to the very beginning and observe His principles. Genesis 1:31 tells us, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good….” He didn’t create evil at all. More so, in Christ Jesus, He manifested Himself as a gracious loving Father.
The real evil being and maker of evil is Satan. Satan wasn’t always a devil, because God only created good things. Satan was an angel called Lucifer, which means “son of the morning”; he was God’s vice-regent over the earth. Everything about him was perfect, but through pride, he lost his position, was overthrown, and became the devil. That was how evil came into the world. God is the author of good, and not of evil: “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints” (1 Corinthians 14:33).
PRAYER
Righteous Father, you’re gracious and kind, great and greatly to be praised! You’re love personified. Your mercies are new every morning, and your faithfulness are forever sure! I love and adore you, most holy One. You do mighty things and your grace is upon all who trust in you. The whole earth is filled with your glory and goodness. Blessed be your Name forever. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY: || Psalms 72:18-19 Blessed [be] the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things. 19 And blessed [be] his glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled [with] his glory; Amen, and Amen. ||
|| Psalm 100:5 AMP For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations. ||
|| Psalm 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for [he is] good: for his mercy [endureth] for ever. ||
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1-Year Bible Reading Plan: Acts 28:1-16,
Psalms 26-29
2-Year Bible Reading Plan: Luke 10:25-37,
Joshua 20-21
