God’s Good Will
Dear BPCWA worshipper, With only 3 days before Christmas, the world is rushing by in preparation for their festivities. It is easy to get drawn into the world’s revelry and way of life, forgetting why we, as Christians, celebrate Christmas. It is a good time for us to ponder the heralding angels’ proclamation that eventful night, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Lu 2:14). Last year, we considered “on earth peace”, so I want to consider “good will toward men” today.
God’s good will. The word “good will” comes from a compound word in Greek, made up of eu (good) and dokeo (think) which when put together would be “good thoughts”, referring to God’s “kind intent, benevolence”. Most of us are somewhat familiar with God’s goodness toward us. Theologically, we have learned of His common grace, whereby “he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust” (Mt 5:45). Without this aspect of God’s gracious thoughts to all, man’s life on earth indeed would be utterly miserable. It is by His mercies that even unbelievers have health to eat and work, clothes to wear, a roof over a head, food on the table, and medicine that cures and relieves many ills of the body. These are not of man’s own abilities. Without sunshine or rain, crops will fail. The most foundational act, i.e. “power to eat”, so vitally needed to sustain one’s life, is “the gift of God” (Ec 5:19). Anyone who believes that God has no love for unbelievers denies this aspect of God’s goodness. And the fact that God is good to all men (i.e. His common grace), is because of His good will toward men. However, we must realise that when the angels praised God’s good will that night of Christ’s birth, they were not only referring merely to His common grace. This announcement by the angels was specifically, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Lu 2:11). In this instance, God’s good will is praised because of the birth of Jesus Christ, God coming in human flesh, to offer salvation to mankind. We see God’s good plan of salvation also reflected in Ephesians 1:5, where our adoption is “by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will”, “according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself” (Eph 1:9). If we were to put it together, God is telling us – nay, stressing to us – that He has good will toward man. The culmination of that good will toward us is demonstrated by the gift of His Son Jesus Christ for our salvation. God’s good will to man came with a genuine free offer of salvation to all who would respond, John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” God’s thoughts toward man are for good, and is an outflowing of His very character. When God created man, He bestowed mankind with the highest honour – to be made in His image, after His likeness (Ge 1:26). From this high estate, mankind fell into sin and the condemnation of sin, doomed for eternal torments. Despite that, God’s goodness towards man did not stop. Instead, His goodness extended to giving us His very best, His beloved Son, Jesus Christ. The greatness of God’s goodwill toward man is demonstrated by this immeasurable gift of Himself for His creatures.
The vastness of God’s good will. I hope that having understood that, we will, this Christmas season, dwell more on God’s good will. What He has done in sending us His Son is far beyond any goodwill that any being can or will ever do. As we consider the sufferings Christ endured, and the grief in the Father’s heart in permitting this to be done to His Son, we have to admit that our human hearts can only fathom but a minute grasp of the vastness of the kindly intents (to put it mildly) which the angels sang of when they said “good will toward men”. This good will of God was not mere wishes for man’s good. It was translated to a very great personal price to God Himself. This must convince us of the depth and the resoluteness of God’s good will to usward. It is no wonder that the Apostle Paul could say, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” (Ro 8:32). The gift of Jesus Christ as our Saviour is not something which costed God nothing. The good will of Heaven’s all-gracious King came with an infinite price. Even if a man owned all the priceless treasures in the world that God created, he would still be unable to purchase the salvation that only God’s good will brings. This is the length, breadth, and height of God’s thoughts of good toward us.
Remembering God’s good purposes. Meditating on God’s good will to us is not to improve our mental health or sense of self-esteem. It must change us and how we view things. Especially, it must change how we view God. And therefore, it must increase our faith and trust in Him, His plans, and purposes for us. God has demonstrated without a shadow of a doubt by not sparing His beloved Son that He has our best interests at heart. This must give us an unshakeable faith to rest ourselves in the knowledge that whatever He has designed in our lives is always the best for us to fulfil His plans and purposes. At this Christmas season, as we consider God’s good will towards us, our faith must increase. When we are faced with what seems to be a bad situation and the fiery dart enters our minds, “How can this be good for me?” or “Why did God let this happen in this way?”, we must direct our thoughts back to the remembrance of God’s demonstration of His good desires towards us. Gifts at Christmas often symbolise goodwill between men. Especially this season, we must be reminded of God’s gift, which we so often take for granted because we don’t “see” it. If our hearts well up at the understanding of this great and loving God, then we must return ourselves to Him. The infinite, omnipotent, and omniscient God who only has thoughts of good toward me has plans and purposes for me to achieve for Him. At this Christmas, as we remember God’s good will towards us, let us have the full assurance of the goodness of His purposes. Just as we look back at the sureness of God’s good will toward us on the day Christ was born, one day, we will look back on life’s plan and see with perfect eyesight how God’s plans were always to work what was best.
May this remembrance stir us to rejoice at this and every Christmas for His good will which is meant for us to fulfill His good end for His purposes and our spiritual good. This is because God said in Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Yours in our Lord’s service,
Pastor