07/01/2020
When we are discussing scripture with one another, and God makes a promise in the verse we are considering, we often hear one of the most disturbing words someone can say about a steadfast promise of God... “But!” At that moment an excuse for God not living up to His promise is about to be made. Someone is about to argue that God placed a hidden clause, or a back door, in his promise. Scripture is adamant, and the words straightforward, regarding God’s faithfulness to His Word.
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”
Numbers 23:19 ESV
The agreements between men are made with carefully crafted language and must be read defensively. There is an old saying that goes like this “The devil is in the details!”, and those of little faith are inclined to treat God’s Word just as we treat those of shifty, and double tongued, men... they are not satisfied until a team of lawyers, pastors, and biblical scholars, has reviewed it, and even then are uneasy. They read and reread as they search for the devil in the details of God’s Word, or some carefully hidden language, which allows the Lord not to do something it is understood that He will do. Friends, there are no “buts”, no hidden outs, no carefully crafted words or language... God is good, and faithful to fulfill His promises, and on this we can found our faith.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,”
Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV
Men often mislead, lie, and lean on deceitful language when dealing with one another, and over time they have grown so expectant of this behavior that they have come to distrust all things... including the Word of God. Yet even though men have lost faith in one another, and perhaps God as well, He remains firm, faithful, and prepared to pull those lost souls back, and renew their confidence in His good Word.
“if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”
2 Timothy 2:13 ESV
These men and women who distrust have devised some strange teachings over the years. They feel the presence of God‘s true nature, but their now tainted minds just can’t let go of their lack of trust in His Word, so they devise carefully concocted fables, and misleading language, in which they can comfortably build a religion. They legalize the love of God, place boundaries on it, and write back doors into His promises to dilute the faith it requires them to believe in Him. In this way excuses are made in an attempt to improve upon God’s Word, and by so doing, to improve on God Himself. Scripture calls these “diverse and strange teachings”, and warns us against them...
“Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.”
Hebrews 13:9 ESV
So faithful believers struggle in today’s society of men who worship the thoughts and language of men, and in which religions have manipulated the truth of scripture for so long that they are hard to reconcile with God’s actual Word. But we can hope, and hold fast to our faith, because although mankind has attempted to change God, He remains unchanged, and true to every Word and promise He has made.
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 ESV
Are you holding fast to God’s Word? Are you resisting the world’s call to mistrust all things... including God Himself? If so then let’s reach out to the lost with the Truth that is God’s Word, and the gospel of Jesus Christ who redeems us; let’s pray for those who have lost touch with trust, faith, and the love of God.
“For the word of the Lord is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.”
Psalm 33:4-5 ESV
Prayer:
Father, we thank you for the truth that is your Word, and the faithfulness by which you uphold it. Thank you Holy Father for sending your Son Jesus to redeem us, and your Holy Spirit to bring remembrance of your Word, and Christ’s teaching, back to us. Help us Lord as we walk through this fallen world of lies, distrust, and those other sins that can destroy our faith, and twist our perception of you, and your truth. We pray Father that you renew your call to all men, and rejuvenate the faith that they have lost through the years. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who never changes, and is eternally faithful to Your Word, and promises. We praise your name for every promised blessing we have received, and for your unfailing love. You are great in mercy, and amazing in the grace you pour over us. You are eternal and have known us from the foundation of the earth. You knew our hearts then, and know them now, and forevermore. You await our arrival, and have set the time and day when your Son Jesus will come to claim us, and bring us to you. Hasten the growth of our faith Lord, and prepare us in trust, and love for you, so that we might not be lost when the trumpet sounds, and the clouds part. This is our prayer, and our desire, and your promise.
“let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:22-23 ESV
Rich Forbes