TV programmes like Watchdog and Rouge Traders drum in the message that if a deal sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Whether it be a special deal on a new driveway or hugely discounted prices on batteries, promises of tremendous savings usually turn out to be horror stories of broken promises. And there is another saying: 'once bitten, twice shy'. When we've been let down, when we've experienced broken promises we find it harder to trust again in the future.
But God can be trusted. When God makes a promise He will keep His word. Psalm 145:13 says, "The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does".
The Bible is primarily a story about God. And through the different stories we find that God can be trusted. We are currently looking on Sunday mornings at the stories of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God made Abraham a promise in Genesis 15 - that he would have a son; that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars; and that they would inherit the land. As we read through Genesis to Joshua and Judges we see the fulfilment, over hundreds of years, of these promises. God is faithful and He can be trusted.
Some of the promises in the Bible are specifically for an individual. The promises in Genesis 15 were for Abraham and his wife, Sarah. The promise of Joshua 1:5 was specifically for Joshua. The promise of Jeremiah 29:11 was for the exiles. But because the Bible is a living word, the Holy Spirit can take these promises and apply them to our lives (although not neccesarily). Other promises are general and conditional. They apply to anyone who meets the conditions. Romans 10:9 for example.
The important thing was that Abraham believed the promise of God. Do we have the faith to believe the word of God to us? To live our lives in the light of what He is saying to us. We live in an instant generation - we want everything now or earlier if possible. God's promise to Abraham spanned over 400 years - it was a part of God's bigger plan (see Genesis 15:16). We need to ask God to help us see the bigger picture as we wait for the fulfilment of His word.
Philippians 4:6-7, the promise of the peace of God that is beyond all understanding, is a significant promise in my life. At key points, life and death moments, God has given me that peace, without any reassurance that things would work out okay.
What promises has God made that are significant in your life?
To listen to this message from 23 September 2007 click here.
