Psalm 100, Why Be Thankful?

As I think about all that God has done for us, my mind takes me to Ps. 100. This Psalm is a psalm of thanksgiving, but also gives me a better understanding and assurance of my salvation. There truly is so much I can be thankful for, thankful to all that God has done. I, however, see something in this Psalm that I hadn’t seen before, a new reason to have faith in my salvation and be thankful no matter the circumstance. So what is this new insight that I have noticed? It really is quite simple but yet so profound. There are three things in the last verse that my salvation really hinges on. First, the Lord is good. He is a good God. He gives us what we don’t deserve and withholds that which we do. His goodness carries no conditions, has nothing to do with my actions. Second, His mercy is everlasting. Once He gives pardon it will never be remembered again or used by God against us. Only the devil likes to dwell in the past because that gives him a hold on us. God says that when He pardons it is separated from Him as far as the east is from the west. And third, His truth endures to all generations. We will always have access to God’s Holy Word. I will never have to wonder if I can access or know God’s words or promises. So in conclusion, how does this psalm help my assurance of salvation? If the Lord wasn’t good He would not offer salvation, if His mercy wasn’t everlasting (forever) I couldn’t rely on His salvation, and if His truth wasn’t to all generations I would never hear of His salvation. Because of these three things, not only do I have assurance of God’s salvation, but a spirit of thankfulness will build up in me and lead to a joyful life.