There are a lot of promises made in this world, but how many are kept? Honesty demands that we keep our promises to the best of our ability. We sometimes make promises with full intention to keep them, but can’t due to our limited ability. The God of heaven has all power to keep the promises He makes.
God’s promises are clearly given (II Pet. 1:4). He has given them in writing, not for His sake but for ours (Titus 1:2; Heb. 6:18) to hold and to know for sure. Through His word He has made promises and revealed His faithfulness to keep His promises. He has made promises to us yet to be kept, but we know by faith, by the evidence of past promises and His nature, that He will faithfully keep them (Heb. 10:23). He’s proven true every time! To Abram He promised a great nation (Gen. 12:1-3) and delivered as promised over 600 years later. Not one failed (Josh. 21:45). He’s recorded His promises for us “in the volume of a book” (Psa. 40:7; Heb. 10:7).
His promises are great (II Pet. 1:4)—great because they originate with God who is great. There are many promises, so they are great in number (Psa. 40:5). God’s promises are great because they’re far above man (Isa. 55:9). When God promises, His promises move Heaven and earth (Eph. 3:10).
The promises of God are precious (II Pet. 1:4). There are many of these precious promises (Psa. 139:17). They could and should be considered golden (Psa. 19:10; 119:72). More precious than gold is the word of God, which should remind us of the rank of material matters in view of the almighty, eternal God.
Because He is eternal, God’s promises can endure forever (Deut. 29:29). To the weary He promises rest (Matt. 11:28). Rest, confidence and relief are promised to the faithful (II Thess. 1:7-8) with ultimate rest from our earthly labors (Rev. 14:13).
Salvation is a promise of God (Mark 16:15-16) with forgiveness of sin (Eph. 1:7). We are promised a future home contingent on our faithfulness (Rev. 2:10). If the Heavenly home is not realized, then the blame rests with us for God has done His part. He has made it possible and promised that through obedience, all could be His heirs by His divine promise revealed long ago (Gal. 3:29).
Let’s work to be more like God in making promises we can keep and keeping them. But, let’s remember to live the hope which comes from the great promises of God.
-David Hill, President of the Tennessee Bible College