GOD IS GOOD - ALL THE TIME

  How many times have we expressed that sentiment individually and in an assembly! If you have ever heard Demar Elam speak you certainly have joined him and others to almost shout aloud, GOD IS GOOD – ALL THE TIME! And that is true! He is good all the time, when the sun is shinning and when the rain is falling; in good times and in bad times; when the money is plentiful and when there is a shortage of money; when there is a bountiful amount of food and when there is little food to place on the table. In recent months we have been praying for at least 10 friends who have cancer. Of that number 3 individuals have been declared cancer free! Praise God, He is so good and our prayers have been answered. However 2 of our dear friends have died because of that awful disease. Was God good on 3 occasions when our friends were declared cancer free? Why, of course He was. Now, let me ask you this question, was God good when 2 of our dear friends died with cancer? The answer depends on how you perceive the character and nature of God. The person of a deep and abiding faith in God knows that He is good all the time; in sickness and in health; in life and in death! The believer knows that our Heavenly Father cares for us when things don’t turn out the way we thought they would, especially when a loved one or a friend dies. The apostle Peter encourages us to cast our cares upon Him “for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). It was Peter who replied to Jesus when many of His disciples turn from following Him and He asked His apostles, “Do you also want to go away?” “But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom we shall go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:67, 68). I often say softly by memory Psalm 46:1 when I feel discouraged or saddened by the death of someone I loved: “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in time of trouble”. Friends and family may comfort me but it is to God who takes me ‘under His wings’ and there I find shelter from the storms of life. Like Peter, I must say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? God is the great comforter. “God is so good, God is so good – He’s so good to me!” – Raymond, 1/28/16