“May I Prove That You Are Good”

“May I Prove That You Are Good”

This is what we sing in WotL no. 225, written so wonderfully by Elihu Pedersen. [Eng: May I show forth Thy love to me.] Yes, God is truly good. He allows all things to work together for my best. Rom. 8:28. He has, through His Son, my Lord Jesus Christ, opened a way so that I can always be happy, joyful and thankful. What else do people seek after in this world? No matter where I am placed on earth, the job I have, the ministry I have—I can rejoice and be glad that my life has been turned from darkness to light. I can rejoice in various trials. I can rejoice over what God has given, and I can rejoice in what He will give, because I have received an inheritance together with those who are sanctified by faith in Jesus Christ. I have received faith that through Christ, a new man will be created in me that is worthy to sit with Him on eternal thrones. Acts 26:18, 1 Pet. 1:6, Gal. 6:15.

Yes, in truth, God has only been infinitely good to me, but do those who are closest to me notice that this really is how it is for me? If I am truly convinced of God’s goodness, why do they still experience the same old hardness and self-righteousness from me?

Those closest to me are most familiar with my weaknesses, and they are the ones who suffer most from them.

If I want to prove that God is good, that the gospel is true, and that it’s also available to those who are closest to me, then I have to prove it through my life. I have to take this seriously, so that my loved ones don’t have to constantly suffer from my nature and old tendencies. I need to be watchful and put to death the deeds of the body by the Spirit so that they come to an end. Rom. 8:13. In this way, God’s nature can instead be formed in me, and those around me can experience God’s goodness—through me. They will be able to see for themselves that God can work miracles, that God can transform such a hard and wretched person like me into something good—something divine.

Not only at home, but anywhere on earth where people meet me, they will encounter the same proof: a happy Christian, who is exceedingly thankful for what God has done for him, one who only becomes happier and happier as time and situations go by, and as the Day when he will meet his Bridegroom draws near. Only our lives can prove this.