Pastor's Articles
God always keeps his promises of eternal life
Promises, promises! Many are the times in our life when we're faced with the disappointment, and even the heartbreak, of broken promises. Someone, perhaps a loved one, makes a commitment of time, talent or support to us, causing us to place our utmost confidence in them, only later to have them fail to follow through.
In most cases, it was not an intentional breaking of a promise, but something else that seemed to have greater importance demanded their attention. Or they simply forgot. Even though they may not have intended to disappoint us, the sting of rejection caused us pain.
Isn't it wonderful to know that even though men may fail us when we need them most, God never will?
His precious word is filled with thousands of promises we can count on because God is faithful, and he cannot lie. How can we be sure that God will never forget the promises he has made to us? Because the very word promise means to engage to do something in respect to oneself.
In other words, God performs what he says he will do because he has staked his reputation on it.
We often think of God's promises to us as being the provision of daily needs, Divine comfort, and protection from adversities. However, most verses speak of the promise of life itself, life that is eternal.
The apostle John, speaking of abiding in Christ, said: “And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life.” (1 John 2: 25)
There are many things that we cannot count on and there are many people who will disappoint and fail us. God's promise of life will never disappoint us or fail.
How do we know this to be true? Because God has sealed his promise of life with his Holy Spirit of promise!
The apostle Paul wrote, “In whom you also trusted, after that you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in which also after that you believed, you were sealed with his Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, and to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13- 14)
God's Spirit, living within us, is the assurance that he will fulfill his promise of eternal life. One day we shall leave this world and all it will be left behind, but to close our eyes and death is simply to open them in the presence of God. Eternal life is his promise! It is a promise that Kelso Carter wrote about in his beloved hymn, “Standing on the Promises.” The third verse reads:
“Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord, bound to him eternally by love strong chord, overcoming daily with the spirits sword, standing on the promises of God.”
Today, in the face of any other disappointment, may you rest in the promise that God has given you eternal life that will never fail.
