The Absence of God Defined

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,

For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 136:1

God is good. In fact, He is the definition of good. Good cannot be truly defined apart from God. Evil is the absence of good, so evil is the absence of God. In fact, evil can only be defined as the absence of God. Evil doesn't have a definition apart from God. We define darkness the same way, it's the absence of light. We couldn't define darkness if there was no such thing as light, because the very definition of darkness revolves around light. God is the source of it all. He is good and He is light. Evil and darkness is the absence of Him.

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you,

that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5

Look at a counterfeit bill. A counterfeit bill has to be an imitation of something that's real. You don't make a counterfeit $24 bill because there is no real $24 bill. You can only counterfeit something that's real. The term counterfeit wouldn't even exist if there were not an attempt to deceive people into accepting something as real when it's not. In fact this is the definition of deception--an attempt to make a person believe something that is false. So, what is false? What is a lie?

A lie is the absence of truth. Once again, there would be no definition of lie if there were no such thing as truth. God is good, He is light, and He is the truth. These are such simple statements, yet there is distortion and deception going on in the world to try and blind people to these truths. If a person is not willing to accept basic facts such as God is good, He is light, and He is truth, there is not a basis for discussion with them. It takes a heart that seeks truth--one that truly loves truth--in order to see it and believe it.

...because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.

For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence

so that they will believe what is false, 

in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth,

but took pleasure in wickedness.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

Evil, darkness and lies, by their very nature, serve to deceive. They may appear to be genuine, such as a counterfeit bill, but in reality if it's not God, it's not good. If it's not God, it's not truth.

No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

2 Corinthians 11:14

We must make an intentional effort to walk in the light, the truth, and goodness of God, in order to be free from deception.

Buy truth, and do not sell it,

Get wisdom and instruction and understanding.

Proverbs 23:23

To buy something means that it costs us something. We may have to give up something we value in order to obtain truth. Do we want to be right, or do we want to know the truth? If we are willing to sacrifice truth so we can appear to be right, we will be deceived. There's one way--His way, and this is the path we are to seek if we are to live in the goodness, light and truth of God.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; 

no one comes to the Father but through Me. 

John 14:6