I remember it dawning upon me one time that the God of the universe is good. As a Christian I had heard it all my life, but the meaning of it never quite made me stop in my tracks like it did in that moment. Like, this one Being that has existed for all of eternity that breathed everything else into existence – He could have been imperfect somehow or messed something up somewhere along the way, but no.
And He could have not existed, but He does??!!
Faithfully we believe He is and has always been sheer, perfect goodness in itself. And it is this same God who purposely willed for me to live and breathe and have a soul that will eternally exist. Wow.
Our Creator being nothing but good has even more wild significance attached to it. The truth of God’s goodness is profoundly woven into every fiber of our being – in fact, it’s so obvious that it’s so easy to overlook when we’re going about our day! Let’s explore this verse that speaks to the truth of our identity:
“God created man in His image; in the divine image He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27)
These words are the key to the meaning of our lives. That’s because they 1) reveal our purpose, and 2) they reveal our destiny.
Us being made in the image of God means this: the Triune family of God, in infinite goodness and love, chose to create you and I as not mere creatures, but children of His own. We bear His image! Not even the angels are given this honor! In bearing God’s image, His infinite goodness becomes permanently woven and grafted into us in the form of priceless dignity – extending from our physical characteristics to the depths of our soul. Nobody can take a dignity such as this away. Bearing God’s image means He created and loves us with the same tenderness of a mother and father doting in pure awe and gratitude over their little baby they made together – now just imagine that love but with infinite resources! That’s the love of our Heavenly Father for you and I. So here’s the deal: if we actually believe 1) God is good and 2) that He made us to bear the image of Himself, we are signing up to discover an inheritance of truth that will leave us in absolute wonder. St. John Chrysostom wrote:
“It is man that great and wonderful living creature, more precious in the eyes of God than all other creatures! For him the heavens and the Earth, the sea and all the rest of creation exist.” (CCC 358).
You, my friend, are loved beyond all telling. God created everything for your pleasure and care. Every leaf of every tree – every animal – every star in the sky – every blade of grass … God showers His love in abundance upon you of whom He made to be like Himself. Able to reason and to know truth, able to choose love, able to create… And nothing else did He make in His image and likeness. You are the apple of His eye, the crown of creation, not the sea lion or the flying squirrel. (Even though they’re pretty cool too.)
And I have to say: who are we kidding if we thought that before creation, God didn’t know Adam and Eve would infamously disobey Him? Who are we kidding if we think that before it all began, God didn’t plan to become one of us to show the full extent of His love for us on the Cross? What an incredible idea to reflect on… He knew it all ahead of time, and yet, He loved us so much that He allowed His heart to be broken for us. He loved us so much that He wanted to descend to our messiness to redeem it. He loved us so much that in the beginning, He still created us. As one of the Church Fathers reflected, it was essentially impossible for God in His perfect love not to save us…
“It was, then, out of the question to leave men to the current of corruption; because this would be unseemly, and unworthy of God’s goodness.” -St. Athanasius
For me, the meaning of God’s goodness continues to unveil every single day. Even though the realization of it struck me several years ago, it was only the beginning of coming to know the enduring faithfulness of God’s goodness. And the highlight moments in my life such as marrying my best friend and giving birth to my daughter are only part of that experience! In each lesson I learn, each time I realize it was He who sustained me during a desolate time, each time I am brought to a low place only to realize my need for a greater reliance on God in a certain area… He makes the glory of His loving goodness more and more known. Each time I notice it happening in such personal, real ways, I’m brought to a state of wonder all over again over just how faithful He is to me and my little life.
So the question is, what am I supposed to do with this gift of God’s all-consuming love for me? So, so much. Here’s the deal: it is because of our worth and belovedness that everything we do matters. Every morning we wake up and look in the bathroom mirror is a new chance to see ourselves through God’s most loving gaze, and from there, to cultivate our entire day around the truth of our identity. Do I embrace positive and encouraging self-talk? Do I look at others with the honor and respect due to their dignity? Is how I speak to and treat others life-giving? What all in my day can I offer to God, no matter how big or small, out of love for Him and for others? What am I being invited to release control of and surrender to Him and His perfect will and timing?
May it all be conformed to the Love that ever was, is now, and ever will be. +
Be at peace,
Sarah