A Promise is a Promise
A promise is, in a sense, a verbal contract – a spoken guarantee.
A promise commits, obligates, binds, avows. There used to be a time when a man’s word was his bond and a handshake was all that was needed to seal a deal. But now contracts are breached, vows are broken, governments renege on their manifestos. We flatter and flannel. We fall short of the truth or go beyond the truth. The world has become cynical, distrusting, disbelieving.
But thank God, in the midst of a world of lies and deceit, there is one voice we can trust. There is one whose word is infallible, unerring and irrefutable.
In Revelation He is called, The Faithful Witness. (Rev. 1:5) Hebrews 6:18 “It is impossible for Him to lie.” John 1:14 “He is full of grace and truth.” John 14:6 “I am the truth.”
When Almighty God makes a promise it’s guaranteed, its gilt edged. It’s better than the Bank of England. It’s safer than Fort Knox. More solid that the Rock of Gibraltar. It’s exceedingly great and precious. God places a high premium on keeping His word – not compromising His word – fulfilling His promises. Why are God’s promises so exceedingly great and precious? Because they are so sure and certain.
Jeremiah 1:12 “I will stand over My word to perform it.”
2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promises as some men count slackness…”
Hebrews 6:13 “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He swore by Himself, saying surely in blessing I will bless you and multiplying I will multiply you.”
Because they are sufficient. (Exceedingly great)
He not only promises life, but abundant life. (John 10:10)
He not only promises joy, but fullness of joy. (John 15:11 & 1 Pet. 1:8)
He not only promises peace, but perfect peace. (Phil. 4:7 & Is. 26:3)
He not only promises grace, but special grace. (2 Cor. 12:9)
God’s precious promises are sufficient to meet every need we have today.
Food, clothing, or some material need? (Mt. 6:25-34, Ps. 34:10)
Because they are so simple.
Simple to find:
John Bunyan. “The pathway of life is strewn so thickly with the promises of God that it is impossible to take one step without treading upon one of them.”
Simple to know:
Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”
Pilgrim’s Progress “ When Christian and Hopeful lay helpless in Doubting Castle, the property of Giant Despair, Christian said, “What a fool I am to be in a stinking dungeon, when I may as well walk at liberty! I have a key in my bosom called Promise, that will, I am persuaded, open any lock in Doubting Castle” Then he pulled it out of his bosom pocket and began to try it at the dungeon door, whose bolt, as he turned the key, gave way, and the door flew open with ease, and Christian and Hopeful both came out”
- Pastor David Goudy