What is God like? How does He act? How does He think? What does He feel?
God’s character is deep, rich, and vast. It is difficult for the natural human mind to grasp the character of a supernatural God, who is above all things. But God has graciously revealed His character to us through the Bible. Even though the Nicene Creed mentions some of God’s characteristics, it doesn’t mention all of them. Today we will stray from the creed to discuss more of God’s characteristics. Specifically, God is love, light, righteous, just, unchangeable, eternal, good, and against evil.
Love
God is love. 1 John 4:8 says, “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” He not only expresses His love to His children; He is love within Himself. His character is love. His love runs deep; He even He offered His Son so our relationship with Him might be restored.
Light
God is light. 1 John 1:5 says, “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” He overcomes the darkness. Darkness hides the truth, produces fear, and distorts our way. When the light of God appears, darkness is forced to flee.
Righteous and Just
God is righteous and just. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he” (NIV). God is righteous and upright, His ways are perfect. He is holy, without blemish. God is just. In order for God to be just, He could not overlook sin. Therefore, a perfect sacrifice was necessary to pay for the unjust sins of the world. This perfect sacrifice is Jesus. When Jesus returns, He will implement His justice by making all wrong things right.
Unchangeable and Eternal
God is unchangeable and eternal. Psalm 102:27 says, “But you remain the same, and your years will never end” (NIV). God is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). We can trust His character because it does not change. He is constant. God is eternal. He has always existed and will always exist. His years have no end. Time cannot limit Him.
Good
God is good. Psalm 100:5 says, “For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” God is good, and His actions are good. He defines what good is; and His definition is from an eternal, heavenly perspective rather than a temporal, worldly perspective. His definition of good is higher and better than ours.”
Against Evil
God is against evil. Psalm 45:6–7 says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness; you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.” God hates wickedness. Sin angers God because it separates us from Him. His wrath burns against evil. Why? Evil is the extreme opposite of His good character. There is no evil within Him.
If I had to pick just one (I really don’t want to) but I guess it would be…….GOOD. The reason in my mind is how come if God is good why do bad things happen, yes even to his children?. If you stop and think about it really think about it isn’t God someone who also experienced this himself? He made the ultimate sacrifice his son Jesus who died for us and even though it was bad it was good at the same time. He brought ultimate goodness for the whosoever will to one day spend eternity with him when we accept and believe God’s goodness through this redemptive work on the cross for sinners for us. So do I still have a hard time grasping this in the mist of suffering you bet I do (my dad passed recently and if I look for the blessing in his passing it would be he accepted Jesus before leaving this earth now that after 21 years is GOOD) God’s plans always work for good. Genesis 50:20 What man means for evil God uses for good. His ways are higher his thoughts are higher. We can’t understand this side of Heaven but even though I don’t I still choose to BELIEVE God is good all the time!
That God is good. I have layed a particular concern at his feet for Him and the other to work through. I no longer continually dwell on this concern. It is no longer my worry. God is good that He and the one it concerns will see it through. God is good that this situation hasn’t been tried by the other to place in my care to take on.