Taste His Goodness

Taste His Goodness!
by Don Vess

Ps. 34:8 AMP- O taste and see that the Lord [Our God] is GOOD! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.

One will never know how good ice cream is until they actually taste it. There are certain foods that I swore I would never eat, that is, until I actually tasted it and discovered that it was actually good. Food like sushi. I used to say, “How can anyone eat that stuff?” But when I got up the nerve to actually try it, I found out I liked it. The same with escargot. I like the taste of it, but it eating it makes me sluggish, so I don’t eat it.

For many years I ran from God, only because I feared Him and His judgement. In my mind I was convinced that He was a hard taskmaster who put impossible and stringent laws and regulations on those who chose to follow Him. I thought that He put “laws” in front of us so that if we “could” keep them then we would deserve heaven, if we didn’t then hell was what awaited us. I tried to keep the law but failed miserably.  I didn’t understand His goodness, His kindness, His gentleness, and His desire to forgive and remove from us the very thing that was destroying my life. There are many whom the devil has convinced that God is Bad and wants to send us all to hell. But there is nothing farther from the truth than that! God is a GOOD GOD and wants the very best for us. It is a fact that God has given us the very best He has to offer us as a sacrifice to pay the price of redemption for us so that we can be saved. Romans 5:8 …God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

He did this because He is a GOOD GOD! A Merciful God!

Romans 4:2 NKJV …do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and long suffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

For the last several (almost five years) someone whom we all love has faithfully entered the doors of Destiny City Church almost every Sunday morning. She hated to miss church! If she could possibly be here, she would be here. I would ask her every time I saw her, “How are you doing Miss Joan?” And she would reply, “I’m counting my blessings!” I would then say, “How far have you counted?” She would say, “Oh, about a billion, but I haven’t even gotten close to running out of blessings!”  She was always extolling the goodness of God.
This past Friday, July 16, 2024, Mrs. Joan Moore left her earth suit behind and entered into the presence of her Lord Jesus at ripe old age of 92. She was a remarkable woman!

Her peaceful departure helped me to realize the impact of the Scripture

Psa. 116:15 NASB- Precious in the sight of the Lord Is the death of His godly ones

Joan was certainly a godly one and precious! There was absolutely no doubt about her love for Jesus because she was quick to express it! She was always in her seat and already worshiping Jesus before the worship team even began. She LOVED TO WORSHIP!

Ps 34:8 was her favorite Scripture. O taste and see that the Lord is good…
I believe Joan was not only tasting the goodness of the Lord, but she was also feasting on it every day of her life!

Holly, Joan’s granddaughter, asked if she could share a few thoughts about Joan. So, I am going to give her a few moments to do so.

Joan was raised as a Catholic in Detroit Michigan by her parents who owned and operated a bar. But early in her life she received Christ as her Savior and joined a Baptist church where she developed a strong desire for God’s word. Later she became a member of Pentecostal church. Joan raised 4 boys and 3 girls, all who came to know and serve the Lord. Joan was a true example of someone who “Lived” their convictions. She tasted the goodness of God and never looked back. Nothing else would satisfy like Jesus did. She loved the word! As a matter of fact, she received her associate degree in theology this last February. She wanted to go deeper in her knowledge of God’s word. Quite an accomplishment for someone in her nineties!

I am doing something that I haven’t done in nearly 50 years of ministry today. I am pretty much conducting a coronation or graduation service for a dear saint that everyone who knew loved and highly respected for her works sake. I am doing so because she set such an example of a saint who lived her convictions. She puts me in remembrance of several of the women of the Bible who stood out in the New Testament.
Paul encouraged Timothy, his son in the faith, 2 Tim 1:5 NASB- For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois, and your mother Eunice, and I am sure is in you as well.

Joan exhibited a great faith! I never heard her say not even one negative word! She was always praising and thanking God.

Joan loved Ps. 19:1 NASB- The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
She had a very “good-common sense and logical” approach to her faith. She believed God!!!! If God said it, that settled it! Period!

Joan lived her life in the Grace of God and in the Fear of the Lord! She believed that God gives us enough grace that we can overcome any temptation that the enemy through at us. Another one of her favorite Scriptures is 1 Cor. 1:12-13 NASB- Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you, but such is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.

The LORD is GOOD! His goodness draws us to repentance and His faithfulness keeps us within the boundaries of His holiness.

I am so glad that God allowed us to spend a little time briefly here on earth with our sister Joan. I am glad that Kathleen and the family allowed me to speak of her today and honor her as we remember her. But I chose to do so, not so much as a eulogy of her, but because her life and example were such that She exemplified the goodness of God because she NEVER downplayed God’s goodness but found it in every situation she was going through. Her physical health was not very good for the last several years, but not once did she complain! Phil 2:14 AMP- Do everything without murmuring or questioning [the providence of God]. Although, she did mention me that she was ready to go home should the Lord call her and was eager to see Jesus. That should be the mindset of anyone who has lived a long life and served the Lord faithfully. Our departure from this present life should not be something that we face with dread something that we look forward to. It certainly was for Joan.
This service should not be viewed as a “memorial” for Miss Joan, but a message with an illustration of what awaits someone who has served the Lord faithfully.

Paul tells us in 1Cor 15:50-58 NLT- What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. 51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. WE WILL NOT ALL DIE, but we will be transformed!  52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. 54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 O dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord. For you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Today, Joan has joined that “Great cloud of witnesses” spoken of in Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.

Have you tasted that the Lord is GOOD? If you have, then you know what it means to experience God’s grace, His mercy, His kindness, and His GOODNESS! Have you sensed the goodness of God calling out to you and giving you the opportunity to repent and get right with Him? Today is the perfect time to do so!