By Brother Michel Lankford
Here is an important “TRUTH Nugget” to ponder and keep in your truth file. Consider the phrase… “It’s ALL Good.” I confess, that I have often used that phrase myself. We usually mean to express that something someone did, or something they said does not offend us or we are not going to hold it against them. The intent and desire to be forgiving and magnanimous is a good and gracious thing. However, using the phrase “It’s ALL Good,” to express that noble desire to be forgiving, is a HORRIBLE and unclean way to express that sentiment. Why? Because the upfront statement used to express the sentiment is in fact a LIE. Now, we don’t mean to lie. We are not intending to deceive when we say that usually, but the lie exists in the statement itself regardless of our intent.
What “GOOD” Truly Means
From God’s point of view, to be, “GOOD” [(טוֹב) ṭôb-In Hebrew] good literally means that something FUNCTIONS in the way that the Almighty Creator INTENDED and DESIGNED that particular thing to function when He created it. In other words, if a person or a thing is working, and is functioning in the manner that the Almighty Creator designed and intended for that thing to function, then it can rightly be said to be GOOD, from God’s point of view. Conversely, if a person, or a thing, is NOT working or NOT functioning as God created and intended for that person or thing to function, then it CAN NOT be truly GOOD, by the truest definition of that term.
If we think about things from a Heavenly Kingdom point of view, the last time that things were truly “ALL Good,” was Genesis 1:31. Factually speaking, everything has NOT been “ALL GOOD, ” since Genesis chapter 3. From the human timetable, it has been a very long time since it was “ALL GOOD.” That statement has not been the truth for thousands of years.
I am not blind to the fact that on the surface it does initially look like I am nitpicking at little things that don’t matter, but I humbly beg you to be patient and bear with me for a little bit, because what I’m actually doing is reminding us all, (myself included), of crucial Heavenly Kingdom Standards. Here are just a few reasons WHY this little seemingly insignificant issue DOES in fact, Matter.
This matters because adopting a Heavenly Kingdom Mindset matters (Colossians 3:2; Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:8; Isaiah 55:7-9; Isaiah 26:3).
This matters because success matters and success REQUIRES that I agree with God, and think about things His Way (Joshua 1:7-9; Psalm 1:1-3; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Proverbs 3:7-8).
This matters because making certain that we define things the same way God does matters. We CAN’T rightly call something GOOD when God says it is NOT (Isaiah 5:20-24; Isaiah 8:20).
This matters because not accepting sinful worldly concepts and terms matters (Romans 12:1-2).
Even if this is a “Little thing,” it still matters because as growing disciples, we should effectively deal with little issues before they become bigger ones. We should catch the little foxes before they cause bigger problems (e.g. song of Solomon 2:15).
Even if this is a “Little thing,” it still matters because, when we practice being truly faithful in smaller things, it will build us up and equip us to become more faithful in greater issues. If we don’t practice being increasingly more faithful in the “Little things like these, then we WON’T be prepared or equipped to be faithful when bigger and more important issues arise. That is based on what Messiah taught (e.g. Luke 16:10). So, practicing being faithful in this little thing is good exercise to help us be faithful if and when we face bigger challenges later. This matters because growing in faithfulness matters.
This matters because we are going to answer to God in judgment for everything we say (Matthew 12:36-37). If God cares enough to bring it under judgment, then it might not be as insignificant and unimportant as we think it is.
This matters because telling the whole truth matters (Zechariah 8:16; Ephesians 4:25; John 4:23-24; John 8:31-32).
This matters because God created us to overcome lies, and accepting any falsehood becomes dangerous (Romans 12:21; Revelation 21:7-8; Revelation 22:14–15). Our first loyalty must be to God and to the Truth above all.
Yes, compared to some other issues this may well be a little thing, but as we have seen from the 10 items listed above, learning to be faithful in the little things can make a big difference.
Thank you so much for your kind attention.
Shalom.
Brother Michel Lankford