“Good” is a handy and often used word in most vocabularies. Good job, good hamburger, good grade, good neighbors, good brakes, good recipe, good gas mileage, good participation, good vibes, good attendance, good friends, good check-up, good sleep, good connection, good experience, and on and on goes that “good” word, finding itself a familiar part of our speech. 

Even the Psalmist Asaph used it in one of his observations about God. In Psalms 73:28, he said, “But as for me, it is good to be near God.” That opens the question — why would anyone want to be far from God?

Even before Christ’s arrival, the Old Testament spoke of His titles. He would be a Wonderful Counselor. His counsel is always wonderful because it’s always for His children’s good. I’ve needed His counsel multiple-plus times in decisions I’ve had to make. His timeless counsel is to make His Word my blueprint for daily living. I’ll admit that there have been portions of God’s Word that have puzzled me, but there has always been clarity in the decisions I needed to make when I based those decisions on His Word that were relative to my circumstances. His counsel is always good counsel, and it’s certainly good for me when I follow it.

Mighty God is a title that strengthens me. What a “good” title to know. When I was very young, thundering storms would frighten me, especially the ones when Daddy would tell us we needed to head down the hall and away from the windows. As I matured spiritually, I began to grasp that my Mighty God was sovereign over the storms. Whether our home and family suffered destruction or was spared, He was a good God.

Everlasting Father is a name for Him that is soothing to my spirit. How “good” it is to know that everlasting means my everlasting Father doesn’t have a termination date or a time when He will relinquish His role as Father. The days of earthly, human fathers are numbered. God, my Father, is outside of time and eternal.

Prince of Peace is a title that ushers in “good” thoughts when the world erupts in chaos and violence. He’s also the Prince of Peace amid family and friend situations that sometimes threaten life as the way it used to be. Those challenging events in life and death are tools in God’s hands to push us closer to Him — the “good” place where we always find solace and help.

We are closing out the first month of the year with changes and concepts that are racing ahead of my reasoning powers. Supersonic aircraft appear to be a choice for air travel within five years. Distance, time and speed will combine to mimic Star Wars travel. AI, a technology with human-like problem-solving capabilities, has rapidly become an international competition that has potential to revolutionize or mastermind the world. How do we approach or assimilate such incalculable change? Ancient Asaph knew the answer over 2,500 years ago. As the world rockets into the unknown, his wise words remain very wise — “But as for me, it is good to be near God.”

Camille Anding, The Daily Leader, P. O. Box 551, Brookhaven, MS 39602.