All the Whole Volume of Perfections
The true Christian seeks God as their choicest and chief good, who is a perfect, pure, and simple good that satisfies the soul.
Thomas Brooks emphasizes that true Christians should seek God as their ultimate good, as He embodies perfection and completeness. He describes God as a pure, all-sufficient, and satisfying good, contrasting it with the mixed goodness found in earthly things. Brooks urges believers to earnestly and diligently pursue God, who alone can fulfill the deepest longings of the heart. He highlights that all the perfections of creation are found in God, making Him the only source of true satisfaction. Ultimately, Brooks reiterates the sentiment of Psalm 73:25-26, affirming that God is our strength and portion forever.
Text
"Whom do I have in heaven but You? And I desire
nothing on earth but You. My flesh and my heart
may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my
portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26
The true Christian seeks God as his choicest and chief
good. God is a perfect good, a solid good. That is a
perfect good--to which nothing can be added; that is
a solid good--from which nothing can be spared. Such
a good, God is, and therefore He is chiefly to be sought.
God is a pure and simple good; He is a light in whom
there is no darkness, a good in whom there is no evil.
The goodness of the creature is mixed, yes, that little
goodness which is in the creature is mixed with much
evil; but God is an unmixed good. He is good, He is
pure good. He is all over good. He is nothing but good.
God is an all-sufficient good. Augustine said,
"He has all--who has the Haver of all."
God has in Himself . . .
all power to defend you,
all wisdom to direct you,
all mercy to pardon you,
all grace to enrich you,
all righteousness to clothe you,
all goodness to supply you,
all happiness to crown you.
God is a satisfying good, a good that fills the heart and
quiets the soul. In Him, I have all. I have all comforts,
all delights, all contentments. As the worth and value of
many pieces of silver is to be found in one piece of gold,
so all the petty excellencies which are scattered abroad
in the creatures--are to be found in God. Yes, all the
whole volume of perfections, which is spread through
heaven and earth--is epitomized in Him. No good below
Him who is the greatest good, can satisfy the soul. A good
wife, a good child, a good name, a good estate, a good
friend--cannot satisfy the soul. These may please--but
they cannot satisfy.
Ah! that we should seek early, seek earnestly, seek
affectionately, seek diligently, seek primarily, and seek
unweariedly--this God, who is the greatest good, the
best good, the most desirable good, who is--
a suitable good,
a pure good,
a satisfying good,
a total good, and
an eternal good.
"Whom do I have in heaven but You? And I desire
nothing on earth but You. My flesh and my heart
may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, my
portion forever." Psalm 73:25-26
Sermon Outline
- God is the greatest good
- A perfect good, a solid good
- A pure and simple good
- An unmixed good
Key Quotes
“Whom do I have in heaven but You? And I desire nothing on earth but You.” — Thomas Brooks
“God is a pure and simple good; He is a light in whom there is no darkness, a good in whom there is no evil.” — Thomas Brooks
“Ah! that we should seek early, seek earnestly, seek affectionately, seek diligently, seek primarily, and seek unweariedly--this God, who is the greatest good, the best good, the most desirable good,” — Thomas Brooks
Application Points
- Seek God early and earnestly as the greatest good that satisfies the soul.
- Recognize that earthly goods cannot satisfy the soul and may even lead to dissatisfaction.
- Pursue a relationship with God that is characterized by affection, diligence, and unwearied seeking.