What is more important, that you follow God or that He follows you? Ed Elliot
Some people try to follow God but the truth is God follows them. Paul makes a challenging statement of a fundamental truth about God’s character. If people understood what he said about God, it would impact their hearts in a powerful way to draw them to God.
“Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?” Romans 2:4
Two powerful truths:
- People not knowing it is God’s goodness that leads them to repentance
- It is God’s goodness that leads people to know God.
Repentance is all about knowing God’s goodness. Religion makes repentance about your sin, not God’s goodness and what God did about your sins. Repentance isn’t about you or your past. It is all about God’s goodness and what He has done about your sins. Religion wants you to focus on how bad, sinful, and disgraceful you are. However, God wants you to know how good He is and how His goodness affects you. It isn’t knowing how sinful you are that draws you to God. It is knowing how good He is that will cause you to want to know Him.
- Jehovah-Rash-”the Lord my Shepherd” God is always watching over us.
- Jehovah-Jireh –”the Lord that sees and provides.” God is still the Lord who sees and provides.
- Jehovah-Rapha-”The Lord who heals and restores our souls.” 3 John 2-”Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”
- Jehovah-Tsidkenu-”the Lord our righteousness.” “Even the righteousness which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference. Romans 3:26
- Jehovah-Shalom -”the Lord is my peace.” If we have peace, we will never fear any evil.
- Jehovah-Shammah-”the Lord is present.” (for thou art with me.) Today, God is always present with us because we have HIs gift of the HOly Spirit in us.
- Jehovah-Nissi-”the Lord my canopy.” A canopy is a covering, a protection for God’s people.
Nothing in these 7 names depicting God’s character and nature reveal anything that would harm us. As a believer, God’s goodness and mercy will follow you for the rest of your life.