To make sense of this discussion, we have to begin with a common understanding and meaning of the phrase “the good life.” But we have limited our discussion by the use of the definite article “the” as we have said “the good life.” There is bias here, some would argue because we should instead say “a good life”—using the indefinite article “a.” For them the phrase pertaining to “good life” best lends itself to a relative rather than an absolute meaning. For good may mean different things to different people—like ‘one man’s meat is another man’s poison.’
I am not going to argue relative and absolute truth claims or perceptions here. The Bible declares that truth must be absolute. For God is truth—permanent, eternal, and absolute. Let me add here that many confuse personal perceptions or views of the truth and the “true truth.” So I go back to the question as it is correctly written as “the good life” rather than “a good life.” Since the beginning God created everything “very good,” (Genesis 1:31). So here our absolute and perfect God can only produce that which is perfect and properly good. The life of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, at the beginning, must have been therefore “the good life.” Imagine they walked with God in the garden of Eden—in His presence and holiness.
Their sin has corrupted the world (Genesis 6:11) and all in it (Romans 5:12). Jesus told us that “In this world [we] will have trouble,” (John 16:33). But our life now and eternally can be good if we accept him as our Lord and Saviour. The Bible says, “Whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life,” (John 3:16). On top of this we see that God our Saviour “wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). I would argue that with the knowledge of God’s truth as we are filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18), we can live “the good life.” After all, being filled with the Spirit we can be righteous,
What is really the good life and how is it defined? The good life must be the life we all aspire to live being empowered by God’s Holy Spirit. We are renewed in that state. One can define this good life as being a life lived in Christ. Is this life for every human being so that no matter the choices and outcomes we have now in our lives, we can still make this claim?
God, who is good, desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth; but we have free choice which is good. Many will not obey God so the life they will have will not, by God’s Holy standards, be good. Of course we will have trials or tests (by God) and tribulations (what we bring about). Our quality of life, good or bad, depends on our responses to the Holy Spirit promptings. The good life God wants for everyone; but God with His perfect foreknowledge knows that not everyone will make the right choices to avail themselves of this good life.
Of course those who are caught up with the doctrine of predestination will say “No.” They will argue that some are predestined to hell. Surely God has the right and sovereign power to predetermine any life as He so chooses. How can the clay tell the potter how to fashion itself? Can it say it wants to be a bowl or cup and not be discarded? Still, what then is free choice or will to those preordained—a farce or joke?