Why are biblical promises important to us? How are they different from promises we make to and receive from others?
Biblical promises are important because they address our deepest needs: a sense of purpose, hope, comfort, priorities, instructions for righteous living, confidence, forgiveness, eternal life, and encouragement.
Some life needs can be addressed in solid, faithful human relationships, but the big difference is that biblical promises are not human-to-human, but God-to-humans. Each of us has experienced disappointment when loved ones or friends have failed to keep their word. That’s what sometimes happens in human-to-human relationships.
What do we do when those closest to us fail to keep their word? We feel hurt, become sad, get angry, hopefully forgive them, and move on realizing that even the best people can let us down.
What happens when God makes a promise? God is not human, He is not flawed with a fallen nature as we are. God’s words to us are perfect and unchangeable. His promises are dependable because He is dependable.
His promises will not fail because He is all-powerful and nothing can defeat Him. Remember this: God created and sustains heaven and earth, mankind, and all living things, sent Jesus to the cross, and raised him from the dead. Death and nothing in heaven or earth can defeat Him. When God gives us His word on something, He will bring it about. This God whom we serve is Promise Maker and Promise Keeper!
Now, I want to point out something that can cause God’s promises to not be fulfilled in our lives. The God-human relationship is not one between equals. God is the ultimate arbiter of right and wrong. We do not get to determine what is absolute truth, to decide to act in a way contrary to the expressed will of God about a matter.
So, here’s the bottom line about whether or not God’s promises will benefit you. You don’t get to determine what God promises, but you choose to honor God’s conditions related to that promise. What you will see in the promises we consider in the weeks ahead is there is often a “condition” you must meet in order for the blessings of the promise to be yours.
Many of God’s promised blessings are contingent on the condition of our heart, our willingness to do what God requires to receive them. Here’s a notable example of what I’m saying,
“If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people, and my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 7: 13-14
What is the promise? Should the Israelites break their covenant with God, dire consequences of drought and pestilence will follow. However, God promises to restore their land. “I will heal their land.”
What is the condition Israel must meet to receive the benefit of God’s promise? Repentance. Turn back to depending on God and turn from your wicked ways.
One more word about these “biblical” promises is necessary. Where do we find God’s promises to us? God’s promises come from the Bible, God’s Word.
The Bible is the authoritative source of all moral and spiritual truth. It is the standard by which all ethical and moral questions must be judged. When the Bible speaks clearly about a subject, you can trust you have a solid answer to your question. There is much more that could be said about the authority of the Bible but the main point here is to tell you that you can rely on the promises God makes to you.
When my children were young they would sometimes ask me to “promise” to do certain things or give them something they wanted. There’s nothing magic or binding by using the word “promise,” i.e. ” I promise I will take you to the concert” or “I promise I will buy you the car you want.” All I would have had to do was to say “yes” or “I will.” My point? My word is my promise because it clearly states or implies I will do something. It sets up an expectation for the other person.
Let’s return to something I touched on earlier: I make a promise when I sign an agreement, give an approving nod, write, or say something that sets up an expectation I will do a certain thing.
My word is my promise and my character will determine whether or not I will do what I have said. So it is with God. There is no instance of which I am aware that God’s Word uses the word “promise” to identify anything He says He will do. His word is His promise. You don’t need the word “promise” attached to anything He says. His word is all you need.
In closing I want to call your attention to something the Apostle Peter says about the role God’s promises can play in our lives,
“He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” 2 Peter 1:4
In the weeks ahead we will be exploring some of these “precious and magnificent” promises that are ours to claim. Can’t wait!