Everyone wants to have a good life. There are sayings in many places that say “Life is Good”. However, if we are honest with ourselves, our life is not always good and sometimes we can experience much bad. There are two types of good and there are also two kinds of bad. There is the good and bad that we have no control over and there is also the good and bad that we allow to come into our life. The good that we have no control over is a “common” good that is available to all.
for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Matthew 5:45b
Another word for bad is evil and much evil that we experience is the evil in the world that is a result of man not listening to the Lord and “going his own way”. Before Adam and Eve sinned they had never known evil or experienced any bad. The Lord had to send them out of the garden of Eden so that they would not take and eat of the “tree of life” and live forever with their fallen nature and separated from God.
and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”— therefore the Lord God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he was taken. Genesis 3:22b, 23
It was God’s mercy and goodness that sent man out of the garden. Man could not be trusted and man now needed God more than ever to help him learn to do what is good for man. God is good and no evil or bad dwells with Him.
O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8
The word “good” means the highest form of love. The Lord is good and His love towards us is perfect, is pure and is for our good. The word “evil” means grief. It is impossible for God to do evil towards anyone because no evil dwells with Him.
No evil dwells with You. Psalm 5:4
The “common” good and the “common” evil that we all experience in life is a good and bad that we have no control over. The “common” good is God’s love and care for mankind. He created everything and said that “it was good”. The “common” evil that we experience is because of man’s sin of going his own way and is prevalent in the world. It brings much grief to people and we have no control over it. Evil and the grief that follows was never God’s design or plan for anyone. God’s will for man is good, perfect and loving. If man knew God’s will for his life then it would be exactly what he would choose for himself.
the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:b
If anyone will come to the Lord, then that person will experience God’s goodness and His love. The one who experiences God’s love will be able to also love others. The one who comes to the Lord will start to live in the wonderful cycle of experiencing God’s love more and more and grief less and less. Much of the grief that we experience in life and the grief that brings the greatest pain is the grief that we bring on ourselves by doing evil towards others. Doing evil brings pain to others but much greater is the destruction and pain that it brings to the one who did it. Evil destroys the one who does it. Evil is not of the Lord and one of the names of Satan is the “Evil one”. The only command in the Bible that the Lord uses the word “never” with is the command to never return evil for evil. The temptation is that when someone causes us grief then we want to return that grief in one form or another. The Lord says to “never” take your own revenge or return evil.
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Romans 12:17
Never take your own revenge, Romans 12:19a
Evil is doing anything that is not in accordance with God’s will, which He has clearly instructed us in His Word, the Bible. When we go “our own way” and ignore or neglect God then our life will overflow with much pain and grief. We will live a life of pain and anger and blaming God because of our choices and actions.
The foolishness of man ruins his way, And his heart rages against the Lord. Proverbs 19:3
God is good and His ways are good. When we walk in His ways and do His will then our life will overflow with the love and goodness of God. We will be happy and at peace with others. The Lord has stored up much goodness for us.
How great is Your goodness, Which You have stored up for those who fear You, Which You have wrought for those who take refuge in You, Before the sons of men! Psalm 31:19
Come to Him and live in His love and goodness. Come to the One who made you and loves you perfectly. Come to God, who loves you so much that He gave up His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for you that you might live in His love forever.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. John 3:16
When you come to God then He will teach you the “good” way. He will teach you about life and love and He will teach you how to avoid much grief and sorrow.
Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way. Psalm 28:5
The Lord will teach you how to be free on the inside. He will teach you about relationships and how to thrive in life. Jesus did not come that you might survive but He came that you might live and live life to the fullest. Jesus wants you to know and live in His love every moment and forever.
I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10b
Instructions To A Young Life 