Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it? Numbers 23:19 ESV
Promises can be a fickle thing. In grade school we promised our friends all kinds of crazy things. Some serious, some not-so-serious.
My best friend, Dee Dee, and I were inseparable for years in grade school. At one point in our friendship, we both lived in the same apartment complex – much to our moms' chagrin because then we could see each other even more. And we did.
We counted the steps between our apartments and discovered a middle line in the sidewalk – this became our meeting spot. We would call each other and arrange a meeting time (mind you we were both 8-9 years old) at our line, or we would race each other to our spot. We did not have to promise, because we had built a relationship of trust and I knew when I went tearing out of my apartment, she would be doing the same.
However, there are promises we utter, but are not able to fulfill because circumstances make it impossible. “I promise you will have a good time,” we say to a child or reluctant friend about an event. How can we make such promises when the variables are too many? Our intentions are good, but most of it is out of our hands.
HOW THEN SHALL WE WALK?
Jesus addresses this subject and expands it to oaths, swearing and such. In His Sermon on the mount we read:
“Again, you have heard it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ But I tell you, do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. Simply let your ’Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No, No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:33-37 NIV
We are to be simple in our speech, and speak truth. We are to mean what we say without adding an oath to what we say. We are to be a people of integrity.
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not journey on it; it will be for those who walk in that Way; wicked fools will not go about on it. Isaiah 35:8 NIV
Because we walk on this Highway, we note who is not on it. The unclean. The wicked fools. Fools are described in Psalm 14:1 as those who say there is no God. Therefore, this Highway is for those seeking God, and seeking hard after Him.
We are to give of ourselves to God as we let Him increase our faith, set us apart for kingdom purposes and to love, fear and obey Him. He shows us ways to do that – all throughout Scripture He describes the difference between holiness and wickedness (or lives not covered by the blood of Jesus).
So what does this have to do with God keeping His promises? A lot actually. He is a faithful, good God. He never changes, what He says He will do, He will do. He keeps His promises for ever and He is holy, righteous and awesome in power and might.
As believers in Christ and followers of Jesus, we are given the privilege to enter the throne room of grace (as promised in Hebrews 4:16). We need not fear being turned away or abandoned by our Heavenly Father because we are promised an audience with the King of kings.
All throughout Bible we are given promises of God’s protection, contending against our enemies, His love, His forgiveness, peace, a mansion and more. So much more.
We can read the Old Testament and see God’s sovereignty move in the lives of people – whether the people were of Israel or not. In the New Testament we see God provide His Son as the sin offering for mankind to have a right relationship with our Holy God. And we can read of Him being actively involved in the lives of Israel and now with individuals.
I may not always see how God works in my life –because prayers seem to take forever to be answered. Or conversely, they are answered immediately, which seem to be no different in scope than my longsuffering prayers. The point is, God does answer prayer and He does it in His way and in His time.
He wants us to have the same attitude as Christ, and that flows to our word. Be people of our word, which requires no oath, but a simple yes or no. Be a people of compassion and love and follow hard after Him. With our focus on God, the sideline spectators will be just that – on the sidelines and not a part of what God is calling us to do.
Being faithful and trusting Jesus is enough to keep us busy. Busy for the kingdom. And the King. Are you willing?
PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your faithfulness and Your promises. My hope is in You and I believe You will do what You say You will do and when You will do it. I may not understand it, but I will trust and believe because You are Sovereign. You are amazing and will accomplish Your good will according to Your good purpose, for Your glory and my good. Help me Lord as I walk this life with You, to keep my eyes on You and to not get bogged down with distractions. In the Name of Jesus. Amen
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