For thousands of years, religious folks have been trying to figure out God. They want to know what makes Him do what He does. For the most part, these theologians and philosophers have been 100 percent wrong.

The reason so many fail to discern the heart of God is because it is impossible to do so apart from an understanding of the mercies of God.

God's mercy permeates and motivates everything He has ever done. If you are trying to comprehend God with the presupposition that He is nothing but a harsh God of wrath and vengeance, you will never see an accurate picture.

The Checed of God
Throughout the Old Testament you will find a word which, in the original Hebrew language, is "checed." It is often translated as mercy, kindness, loving kindness, or goodness. Checed is almost always in reference to God's feelings or actions toward man by displaying His mercy, kindness, favor, and goodness.

Based on Strong's Exhaustive Concordance, checed is translated in the following ways, indicating the number of times each word is used:

1. Kindness
2. Mercy
3. Loving kindness
4. Goodness
5. Goodliness
6. Good
7. Favor

This totals 100 times that checed is used when being translated as only these seven words.

In the New Testament there is a similar term in Greek, "agape." This term is used one 139 times and is usually translated as "love." We see it in John 3:16, which says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave...."

Both checed and agape represent the God-kind of love, the kind of love that gives sacrificially and unselfishly; in other words, mercy. If you want to understand God, His nature and His ways, you must gain an understanding of His mercies.

God Is Good
Back in the 1940's, Oral Roberts made a single statement that stirred up a hornet's nest of controversy with the religious establishment of that day. His simple statement was: "God is a good God."

The religious mind-set likes to see God as a mean, spiteful dictator, who is ready to thump you on the head the moment you get out of line. They also believe He likes to put sickness or tragedy in your life to test you or teach you a lesson.

This, however, is not the God of the Bible. A careful search of the Scriptures will reveal a much different sort of God. Look, for example, at Psalm 136:

O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endures forever. To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endures forever. To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endures forever. To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endures forever.

To him that made great lights: for his mercy endures forever: the sun to rule by day: for his mercy endures for ever. The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endures forever. To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endures forever: and brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endures forever: with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endures forever. To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endures forever: and made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endures forever: but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endures forever. To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endures forever. To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endures forever: and slew famous kings: for his mercy endures forever.

Do you get the picture? I believe God wants us to know this two fold truth: that He is good and His mercy endures forever! God is motivated by love and mercy. It is a theme found from Genesis to Revelation. In fact, the Bible is nothing more than a love story - the story of God's love and pursuit of fallen man.

In Chronicles, Chapter 16, it says,

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens. Glory and honor are in his presence; strength and gladness are in his place. Give unto the Lord, ye kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Fear before him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth. Let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth. O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endures forever (1 Chron. 16:25-34).

We need to start getting this truth through our heads: God is good and His mercy lasts forever! Far too many believers are still walking around in constant fear that God is going to "get them." Think about it this way: If God were going to "get you" because you mess up every now and then, you would have been "got" a long time ago!

God is good. He radiates goodness. Do you remember the words God used with Moses on the mountain when he asked God to remove the cloud and to reveal Himself? When Moses said to Him, "Show me Your glory!" God answered, "I will make all my goodness pass before thee" (Ex. 33:19).

As far as God is concerned, when we are looking at Him, we are seeing His goodness. God and His goodness are inseparable; they are one and the same.

Source: Answers Awaiting in the Presence of God by Creflo A. Dollar, Jr.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers