The Promises of God
Men sometimes break their promises, sometimes they are unable to fulfil them. God never has gone, and never will go back on His Word (Hebrews 6:17-19). Forever His Word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89). “The scripture cannot be broken.” (John 10:35) God is abundantly able to fulfil all He has promised (Ephesians 3:20). He is the almighty God (Genesis 17:1). There is nothing too hard or impossible for Him to do (Jeremiah 32:27; Matthew 19:26). Jesus says, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18) God has given us many “exceeding great and precious promises: that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:3-4)
I am satisfied many do not appreciate the promises of God as they ought. There are promises in the good old Bible that apply themselves to our every need. He has promised to “supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) He has “given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” (2 Peter 1:3) He “giveth us richly all things to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17) We need not be covetous; He “openeth [His] hand, and satisfieth the desire of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:16) Praise and honor be to His name!
Joshua told ancient Israel, just before he was to leave them and take his departure from the world, “Ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls [not just in their heads or in theory], that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spoke concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.” (Joshue 23:14) A wonderful statement, is it not? They could not deny it. It was actually so. Solomon likewise says, “Blessed be the Lord, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant.” (1 Kings 8:56) We are constrained to say also that, of all the promises in the Book, there has not failed one of which we have laid hold upon and met the conditions. The promises are all conditional. God would have us do our part, which is to believe, obey, and trust. If we do, we will be able to set to our seal “that God is true.” (John 3:33)
God will not only fulfil His good promises unto us, but He will just as truly fulfil His promises of vengeance and retribution. “It is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation.” (2 Thessalonians 1:6) “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.” (Romans 12:19) Yea, God is not to be mocked (Galatians 6:7). If He has promised tribulation and retribution to His enemies and the rebellious, He will send it (Romans 2:1-11). He will by no means clear the guilty (Exodus 34:7; Numbers 14:18).
David says, “Thy rod [precepts] and thy staff [promises] they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) Will His promise fail? (Psalm 77:8). Nay, verily. “All the promises of God in him [Christ] are yea.” (2 Corinthians 1:20) “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful; he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:13) “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 7:1)