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Pastor's Piece - God Keeps His Promises

by Dr Barry Wright

 
God Keeps His Promises

 
We live in an age of failing promises. It is an age that has often been characterized by a failure in those areas of society that have, over the years, represented stability and security.

Who can we really trust when we have been let down by those who have promised fairness and justice for all?

The Psalmist in Ps 146: 6 (TLB) tends to provide an answer to this question when he says: 'The God who made both heaven and earth, the seas and everything in them. He is the God who keeps every promise.'

David, in this verse, was to sense a certain security in the fact that it was God that made both heaven and earth. He sees God in charge and this wonderful truth affirms to him that there will be no failure or broken promises.

Most of us, sometime throughout our lives, have been the recipients of broken promises and yet we see over seven thousand in God's Word that have never been broken. This makes very clear to us that God keeps His promises.

He is also a God who is an anchor in a world that finds itself adrift. Malachi in Malachi 3: 6 records God's words where He says: 'I the Lord do not change…' God is constant in a world of change. People change, but God does not.

The changes in today's world are coming more rapidly than ever so it is important to recognize that the promises he made to those in the Old and New Testament world apply just as much to us today.

We see this in the promise He made to Israel through the prophet Jeremiah where He says in Jeremiah 29: 11 (NIV): 'I know the plans I have for you', declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'.

At the time this was written the people of Israel were in captivity in Babylon and these words were to be a promise that God had not deserted them. Even though they were going through tough times in a foreign land, God was still there for them. He tells them that He had a plan in mind and this plan contained four main elements.

First, He says He would see them prosper even in oppressive surroundings. Second, He would protect them from any harm that might come their way. Third, He would give them hope that would take them through each day. Last of all, He had a future in mind for them. Their captivity was not the end of the road. It was only to be one of the challenges they were to meet on their life's journey.

The same promise that God sent through Jeremiah is the same for us today. He hasn't abandoned those that love Him. He has the blueprint of each life in His hands. We need to claim this assurance for ourselves and as the Lord says in Jeremiah 29: 12, 13, 'Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'

As one author has suggested, 'The promises of God are like precious flowers scattered through a garden. The Lord would have us linger over them, looking closely into them, taking in their loveliness, and appreciating the favor that God has bestowed upon us by making such provisions for our needs'.

Just like picking flowers we need to reach out in faith. We take the promises one by one. No one can do this for us. Each promise is a treasure prepared by God for us because we love Him. It is ours only when we receive it. God always does as He says, but we may need patience as we wait (Hebrews 10: 36). However, we will receive it at the time we need it most. All along the path of life, God scatters His promises like flowers to brighten our journey that takes us towards the heavenly kingdom He is preparing for us (Lantry, 1976: 90).

It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus ascended into heaven to sit on the right hand of the Father. But before he left, he gave us a special promise, and that promise is still good. It is found in John 14: 1-3 and it says:

'Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself that where I am, there ye may be also'.

I am so glad that God keeps His promises.

References

Lantry, E & J.  (1976)  Stop, Look and Listen. Washington DC: Review & Herald Publishing Association

Smoke, J.   (1978)  Every Single Day. New Jersey, USA: Flemming H. Revell Co

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