Do you ever get tired of hearing promises made by people you know don't intend to carry through on them? Employers, politicians, friends, etc., seem to think nothing of spouting promises they have no intention of keeping. We often get to the point we don't really listen. We definitely don't expect to see anything come from these words they so easily spout, in other words; we become cynical; which is just another term for disbelief. Most of the time, and, with most of the people we deal with, we're probably right in thinking this way. The problem is, though, we carry that cynicism into all the areas of our lives. We begin to believe that everybody is that way. We need to remember the fact that not everyone is that way!

The verses I have in mind were penned by Paul in the "second" letter to the church at Corinth. He wanted to make sure the church didn't think he was "wishy-washy," like some people are. He wrote: "Am I like people of the world who say yes when they really mean no? As surely as God is true, I am not that type of person, My yes means yes because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and no. HE is the One whom Timothy, Silas, and I preached to you, and HE is the divine Yes-God's affirmation. For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in Him. That is why we say ‘Amen' when we give glory to God through Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 1:17-20 NLT)

I like the King James Version of verse 20, which says; "For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” My paraphrase is this: "Everything God has promised will be, will be. They are all a great big YES!!! in Jesus, and in Him they are TRUE!" Did you get that? Every promise God has made is verified and fulfilled in Jesus. Every, all, no exceptions, no matter how hard they may seem in our minds, God has verified they will be accomplished. How hard is it to believe that the all-Supreme, self-existing, all-powerful Creator God would, of His own volition, create and carry through on a plan where He Himself would give the sacrifice of His own Son as restitution for our sins? If you reeeaaallllllyyy think about it; the very idea would seem preposterous! No one would have dreamed such a thing; never the less, it is true. Now since God honored the awesome promise of giving His Son for us; HE has shown unequivocally that HE will do what HE says HE will do. So all the promises of God are verified in Jesus.

What promise(s) has HE made to you? Does it seem impossible they would ever be fulfilled? If God would go so far as to give His Son to fulfill the promise of a Redeemer; don't you know HE will do whatever it takes to fulfill the promise(s) HE has made to you!?!?!? Does it make you doubt because you have been waiting a long time to see it? Remember that Israel waited centuries for the promised Messiah. They kept thinking in several situations that surely it was the time for God to send their true King to rescue them. That is answered in Galatians 4:4, where we are told, "In the fullness of the time, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman." God knows exactly when our need(s) should and can be met fully. If HE says HE's going to do something, HE will do it exactly when it is the fullness of the time: not before and not after. The title of a popular 50's television show is fitting, "Father knows best!" 2nd Peter 3:8-9 teaches us that God isn't slack or tardy when it comes to His promise in the way we think. HE also doesn't get pressured by time constraints, because, with Him, "a thousand years is like a day, and a day is like a thousand years." God is perfect in all His ways and in His timing. Wait, patiently believing, HE will do what HE said HE will do!!!

Sometimes people make "conditional" promises. One party states they will fulfill the promise if the other party fulfills their end of the "bargain." God's promises will always be accompanied with the conditions, if there are any to be met. Read the promise; If HE doesn't state a condition, then there are none.

God does not change with the weather, mood, times, customs of society, or any thing else. HE is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. HE does not change or vacillate. Depend on it; if HE said it, HE will do it. God makes a lot of promises to us in His written Word; HE will do them. God has also spoken, in several differing ways, promises to several, if not all, of us; HE will do them.

HE made two promises to me concerning my daughter when she was about 4 years old: (1) I would baptize her, after she was save, and (2) She would be a missionary. She prayed a "salvation" prayer with her mother at about 41/2 years of age. She asked to be baptized at age 10, in a little church where the pastor did all the baptizing. She was. I thought, "God, it must not have been you telling me those two promises. I sure thought it was. I guess I was wrong, or else, something changed along the way." Almost 8 years after that, my daughter came in one night and told me as I met her at the door; "I don't know about before, but I know it was settled tonight. I got saved!" Would you like to guess who baptized her at Hilldale Baptist Church shortly thereafter? Yes, I did, just as God had told me almost 14 years before! Well, I tell you unequivocally, God will complete the second part of that promise, also. Write it down, if you wish. It doesn't matter if, at this moment, or, any other moment, she, or any one else remotely related to the matter seems headed in that direction or not; my daughter will be a missionary. It is not because I say it. I'm saying it because God said it to me. God said it; it will be. The old Gaither song said; "God said it, I believe it, and that settles it for me." It made a nice tune, but it is and was incorrect. God said it; that settles it. It doesn't matter that this part of the promise was given to me almost 25 years ago; I know it will be.

Believe what God has promised. Hang in there, for, as another song says; "God will make a way, when there seems to be no way."

                                                        Ben