So, God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
Hebrews 6:18 (New Living Translation)
Promise-breaking starts way too early in life. In fact, if you consider your own history, you may have interacted with a child who promised to be your friend one day but changed her mind the next. Or maybe you recall with trepidation the scene from middle school when a buddy promised to save a seat for you but then decided to give it to someone else. Or perhaps you can relate to so many who have had their feelings from a first “love” dashed within days of the budding romance. These are just some of the painful experiences that have marred our developmental years and, sadly, seem to multiply as we move through adulthood.
Of course, as adults we realize that broken promises are just part of living in a far-from-perfect world. Maybe what’s most disappointing to those of us who are believers is that we struggle with the same promise-keeping problem as everyone else. Like the Apostle Paul, we recognize that “nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway” (Romans 7:18-19).
Thankfully, as the author of Hebrews points out in the Scripture above, God’s children have access to the one and only Promise Keeper. And because the Lord doesn’t lie, we can have confidence in everything He promised—most importantly His assurance of eternal life, that “hope that lies before us.” So, when God says that everyone who believes in Jesus “will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16), we can trust that truth. When Jesus reminds us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me” (John 14:6), we don’t have to worry about some missing step needed to earn our place in Heaven someday.
What more do we need in life than this? Nothing—but, as our amazing God always does, He offers His forever family so much more. See how The Message Bible explains the “additional benefits” our Promise Keeper provides:
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have Him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.
(I Peter 1:3-5)
These verses make it perfectly clear that God is at work for us in the here and now, giving us “a brand-new life” and “everything to live for.” We find these assurances over and over again in Scripture, for instance, “anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (II Corinthians 5:17). Part of this new way of living involves the Lord developing us into keepers of His promises too: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him” (Philippians 2:13).
I don’t know about you, but I need to focus on the Promise Keeper much more in the days ahead. After all, we can’t change the past or avoid every promise-breaker, but we absolutely can connect with the One keeping an eye on us today, tomorrow, and forever.
Many blessings to you during this season of rebirth and renewal from all of us at Sonkist Ministries!
Thought of the Spring
God’s way is perfect.
All the Lord’s promises prove true.
He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.
Psalm 18:30