Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Today’s society likes to give ratings and many businesses encourage consumers to rate their experience concerning services or products. With the five choices of (1) very poor, (2)  poor, (3) average, (4) good, (5) excellent, receiving a five-star rating is as good as it gets. After a recent church service, I told my Pastor that he delivered a six-star message (I thought it was “over the top.”) In my mind, that was the same as giving him an A+!  I sure hope he didn’t think I was giving him a 6 out of 10. Maybe that’s why he gave me that funny look.

When God created the heavens and the earth, “God saw that it was good” was recorded five times in the Book of Genesis as a summary statement. But on the sixth day, when He created man (humankind) in His own image, He upped His own rating from good to very good: “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good” (Genesis 1:31 NKJV). Since Yahweh is a five-star God, I prefer to believe that “very good” is the same as “excellent” and that’s as good as it gets.

Before he became king, David penned the following psalm: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 34:8 NKJV). David could say that the Lord was good by his personal experience. He placed his faith in a never-failing God. David experienced many turbulent circumstances but they never shook him loose from God’s promises to protect and deliver him. “You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as You promised (Psalm 119:65 NLT). If believers will only taste (give God a chance), we’ll see (experience) His goodness in our lives.  

Because we have an excellent 5-star God, we should desire to step up to the plate and serve Him with excellence. As His ambassadors, we represent Christ  in everything we do and say. The rubber meets the road outside the walls of the church building. When the pressure is on, the following thoughts may cross your mind: “This is good enough.” “I don’t have time to do it right.” “I’ll do better next time.” “Nobody cares, so why should I?” “I’m just guessing; I hope I spelled his name correctly.” I’m sure grateful that God never has a lazy or lousy mindset about His responsibilities.

Peter boldly reminds believers that we have an important job to do. “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9 ESV). Just like a mannequin in the store window, we’re to display the excellent virtues of Jesus. I’ll be the first to admit, there are times when I feel like a dummy because I thoughtlessly said or did something unkind. Regretfully, I didn’t represent Jesus well in that moment. But, thankfully, there’s mercy and forgiveness for a dummy’s repentant heart. “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 107:1 NKJV). “For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation” (Psalm 100:5 NLT).  

The Key: God is good. God is very good. God is excellent.