Message summary: The mysteries or questions we have regarding God's goodness are due to our finite understanding and limited knowledge, never a deficiency in His attribute of goodness.

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"The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made" (Psalm 145:9). "He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45).

Yesterday I was visiting with a friend who had a prostate cancer diagnosis last year followed by treatments. He shared with me about a recent PSA test that was zero which is what the doctors desire.

"Unremarkable" is an interesting medical term used for such a result. Normally we want to hear the word "remarkable", an adjective that means "exceptional, interesting, or excellent". Remarkable things get your attention. But in the context of medical imaging and other tests, the term "unremarkable" typically means that no abnormal or significant findings were observed. "Unremarkable" in this context is a good thing!

Today Brooksyne had a medical procedure and we rejoice that the findings were "unremarkable".

But we are aware others have received a test result that is not unremarkable. In fact, at any given time, we know those who have not heard the blessed report of an "unremarkable" test result. Even as we prepare this message Brooksyne has a friend on her heart that has been fighting cancer for the last several years and is now in hospice care.

Our first daily verse makes a statement that is often taken for granted even by devout believers. “The Lord is good to all”. Consider the multitude of ways that His attribute of goodness is extended to everyone, including the unbeliever and vilest sinner. Even the most blatant blasphemer and hater of God is abundantly showered with His goodness.

God’s goodness is revealed to all in what theologians call “general revelation”. General revelation refers to the general truths that can be known about God through nature. Special revelation refers to the more specific truths that can be known about God through the supernatural. God's goodness is also an expression of what theologians call "common grace" which is God's mercy extended to all.

Today's second text is found in the Sermon on the Mount. The sun and rain are a blessing to all. Jesus said, “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). Each of us benefit from a wide host of blessings ranging from the percentage of oxygen in the air to this remarkable machine we call the body.

I also consider another truth. In the verse "sun" and "rain" refers to their positive impact. But in His divine providence God also rains trials on both the righteous and the unrighteous. A line in the hymn "Like A River Glorious" states "Every joy or trial falleth from above".

For this reason the goodness of God has often been a stumbling block for the unbeliever and a source of confusion to the believer. This happens in individual lives during trying times when “bad” things happen like when a medical result is not unremarkable and His ways make no sense to us.

The late theologian J.I. Packer observed:

Can you say “Amen” to that?  You see, the mysteries or questions we have regarding God's goodness are due to our finite understanding and limited knowledge and never a deficiency in His attribute of goodness. This is true even when the test results are not unremarkable!


Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen and Brooksyne Weber