- photo by Susan PageThe word “good” is used a lot in our day-to-day conversation. We might say, “have a good day” or “good-night” or “have a good time” or “good-bye.” There are slang expressions like “good grief”, or “good riddance” and goodness knows how many other phrases we could refer to.

From the opening pages of Scripture, we see that when God saw or took pleasure in His creation, He voiced His approval, with the words … “It is good.” The first reference is at the very beginning of Creation, “And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:4). Most of us can relate to the fact that we would prefer to be in the light. Just think back to those times in childhood when we let the fear of the dark overtake our imaginations. Yes, light is a very good thing.

God made the land and the sea and said that it was good. While I have never been able to travel the world, I will always remember my trip through the magnificent Canadian Rockies while riding in the back of a Mustang convertible. I would certainly agree with my Majestic Maker of heaven and earth, … oh, my, it is so good!

Most of us can relate to being by the ocean, hearing the pounding surf, seeing the aquamarine hue of the dancing waves as sunlight sparkles like diamonds off the surface of the water. We smell that salt air and draw in a deep breath and say, yes, it is good!

- photo by Susan PageThe creation story continued as the lush land produced vegetation of unimaginable variety, plants, and trees. If you have ever bitten into a perfectly ripe peach, fresh off the branch, or taken a sun-ripened strawberry directly off the vine and tasted the pleasure as the juice dripped down your chin, you know that it is very good indeed.

God made the sun and the moon, the stars, and according to man’s calculations, two trillion galaxies. As God proclaimed His delight at the amazing displays of twinkling shooting stars, the Milky Way, and the indescribable Northern Lights, He again proclaimed it all good.

God filled the waters with living creatures of every kind. He loaded the expanse of the sky and the land with such a vast variety of winged birds. Ask an avid fisherman what amazement can be found in viewing the colouring on the sides of a beautiful rainbow trout or walk through a meadow of butterflies and be mesmerized by the detail of the intricate design in every species. Come, spend an afternoon with me and share my delight as I try to capture in a photo a single moment of artistry by our Master Designer as we declare in praise together … it is so very good.

God went on to produce creatures that move along the ground, wild animals, and livestock. What an imagination our Creator has. From the long-necked Giraffe to the beautiful Appaloosa, right down to that special pet, a Golden Retriever or a simple tabby kitten that curls up on a lap purring in pleasure. It is all uniquely good according to our tastes. (There are questions regarding mosquitos, ticks, and snakes. 😊)

Then God made male and female, and He gave us all the above-named blessings and so much more, and it was all so amazingly good until it was not, yet God still had a very good plan.

From the time that we did not make good choices, God, being who God is, a good and loving Father, had a good plan to redeem His wayward children.

As we pause to reflect on how delighted God must have been when He declared His creation to be all good, let us give thanks. For the beauty of the earth, and for the way creation points us to God, we give praise. We have a good, good Father who has given us all things richly to enjoy. So, when the days are hard, and the burdens of this world are heavy, look out and up and gaze at the beauty of any single blossom, snowflake, sunset or a baby’s dimpled cheeks and be filled with delight at the goodness of God our Maker.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.” (Psalm 34:8)

 

Susan Page is friend of Pastor Tim and Susan's. For many years she has written devotionals for the National Prayer Guide of the Associated Gospel Churches of Canada where she serves as their Church Relations Coordinator / Health Benefits Manager.