The Promise and the Faithfulness of God

Many a time the promises of God to His children seem very elusive and impossible especially when they are put side by side with the realities.In such situations,what should be the attitudes of His children? Should they be disillusioned? Or discouraged?

The answer is no!

When the promises of God are in sharp contrast to your present circumstances, what you focus on is very important.I want to share with you the things you are not to focus on and the important things you should consider :

The next two points should not be your focus:

1)Your present realities:Stop comparing your present situation and the promises of God.They are incomparable. If you do,you will always see the impossibilities.Your present situation is a far cry to what God is about to do in your life.If you are absorbed in the present circumstances, you will be discouraged.Let’s look at the reaction of Gideon to the angel that God sent to him when the Israelites were being tormented:

“Sir,” Gideon replied, “if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘The LORD brought us up out of Egypt’? But now the LORD has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites.”-Judges 8:13

Can you see the reaction of a man that had been disillusioned by his present predicament?

2)Yourself: Sometimes we become too engrossed with our bodies such that when we compare God’s promises and what is happening in our bodies,we sometimes sneer at what God says (Yorubas say you ‘yinmu’).It happened to Sarah in the Bible when she laughed off the promise of God.God’s promise to her was like a joke!

“So she laughed silently to herself and said, “How could a worn-out woman like me enjoy such pleasure, especially when my master—my husband—is also so old?”-Gen 18:12

Today,I do not want you to ponder on your present situations irrespective of what they are neither do I want you to look at who you are( un-employed,under-employed,barren,failure,ex-convict etc).

Rather consider these next two points:

1)The promise of God:It is better to dwell on this because the promise of God will always be fulfilled by Him.

“Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!“-Joshua 23:14

That was Joshua speaking to the Israelites.He died at the age of 110,and he could say emphatically that none of God’s promises failed! How old are you? You are below 40years and you already think God has failed you…Wait on His promises my brother and sister.

Do you know if you are in Christ,you even stand on a better covenant than Joshua?This is because all what you are still trusting God for were fulfilled at Calvary!

“For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.”-2Cor 1:20(NLT)

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God”.(NIV)

Joshua was like a person going to watch a match between Jesus vs Devil at Calvary Field.He had no idea of the scoreline before the match.But if you are in Christ, you are watching a replay match!You don’t need to live for 110 years to know that God’s promises never falter .You know the scoreline already,the promises have been fulfilled in Christ.You only need to wait on Christ and surely He will deliver!

2)God’s Faithfulness: Admittedly,it might be difficult to just forget the present realities or your personalities and ponder on the promises of God.You might see yourself as living in fool’s paradise.People might even see you as not being realistic.

But please kindly consider the faithfulness of the God that has given you the promise. He is not a man.He is not like the President of US or Queen of England.The persons I just mentioned are his creatures! They can promise and be limited in carrying out their promises but God is limitless and faithful with His promises.

Ponder on the three verses below and let them sink into your spirit:

“God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?”Num 23:19

“God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.”- 1Thess 5:24

“Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise.”-Heb 10:23

Hold on brother…Your winter will soon thaw!

Don’t give up sister…Your miracle is almost here!

Don’t commit suicide…It is not over yet!

Your dream job will soon come…

Your spouse is almost here…

Look up,can’t you see your newborn baby?

Your testimony is next to be shared because…”Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”

Shalom.