The Author of the Good
Building from Carter Carruthers, "Good isn't What We Think It Is", Vivat Agnus Dei, September 22, 2024.
If good isn't what we think it is, and God gives gifts that are good, it seems we have one thing to do in order to learn what is good, meet its Author (James 1:17, Matthew 7:7-11). Clearly, we are not interested in God only because of what He offers, although it is grand.[1] Even when it comes to gifts, their worth is only derivative of the love with/from which they are given, like an encrypted message and the encryption key.[2] If we lose sight of God, we lose sight of His gifts. This will destroy us, this is hell. Without God, we have no life, and maybe this is coercive, but it is what takes to bring the beloved home, wouldn't you do that for your child (Matthew 16:25)? We were made for goodness and not just any good, but Goodness Himself, and our nature makes that very clear.
First, the enemy from the beginning has made us to believe God is not the one to give us a choice, that He takes what is good from us and for Himself. It is no wonder He is called "he is a liar and the father of lies."(John 8:44). In summary, we know he is lying because he exists. What evidence do we have against His lies? Well, we have God's Word and God alone has shown that He is the true shepherd one Who spares not Himself to give us what is necessary to be able to be with Him and He still refuses to make us, only to allow us to see that it is not good for us to choose otherwise (Luke 15:22; John 10:1-21).[3] As it stands, we have been bought with a price and if we are the slightest bit just, we will sit down and at least let God say His Peace (Romans 5:1-11; 1 Corinthians 6:20).
Second, often when we are suffering in a very contingent way, we easily begin to blame God for having created things and persons that are corruptible. However, do we just want to blame something outside ourselves for the corruption we chose? Indeed, even someone who wants to be at peace with themselves concerning their own conduct and that of their immediate neighbors easily find themselves with tasks nearly impossible because we are broken and our inner hurts and hunger are not solved only by doing our best. One of Augustine's most famous quotes, because its implications are universal, is "our hearts are restless until they rest in you. You will also notice that when Jesus describes how we come to find ourselves lost, it is not the set of actions taken by us that bring us health.[3] You will notice that we don't understand God whenever we are lost, sometimes even when we think we are not lost because we are close.[3] God in those situations is the only one to truly love and that is not enough to save us, we must come to share (in) His love, not only receive it and not only give it but truly live it.
In conclusion, we are lost until we are found in Him. If we have not Him, we have not anyone or anything. If we do not give Him what little life we have, when we cease having it we will lose even the little bit we have. Inversely, if we give all, we shall receive more (Matthew 25:29). We are poor until He enriches us. No one loves us unless He does. He is our one True Lover; may God then be our one true love. He should be our singular focus and once that is achieved and He is truly our perfect premise and goal every decision becomes much easier, our every relationship becomes fuller, and our every task and achievement becomes love.
“To fall in love with God is the greatest romance;
to seek him the greatest adventure;
to find him, the greatest human achievement.”
St. Augustine of Hippo
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