“Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.” (Romans 4:20-23 NLT)
In yesterday’s post we began looking at lies that lurk in our heart or mind that either prevent us from coming to faith in Jesus or hinder us in our walk once we come to Him. Today I’d like to look at another lie that Satan plants with the intention of crippling our faith, and that is that God doesn’t keep His promises.
There are basically only two reasons we would believe that lie. First, we misunderstand the nature of His promise(s), or we create a promise we think He should keep, so, when in our mind He doesn’t keep it, we blame Him. God is Truth, thus, doesn’t have the capacity to lie. It would violate His character to say or do anything that was untruthful. It would be like God not loving or acting in an unloving way. It’s literally impossible.
Have you ever made a bargain with God? “Lord, if you’ll do ‘this,’ I’ll do ‘that’?” So, if “this” doesn’t happen, in my mind God hasn’t come through (i.e. keep His “promise”), so I feel justified in being unhappy with Him. Who is hurt in that scenario? Me, right? God is immutable, which means He is unchangeable. So, it’s a lose-lose for me.
When we “bargain” with God, seeking to manipulate or use God to get our way, it never works out very well for us. Yet, Satan will twist truth or deceive us into believing lies about God that will only serve to push us further from the Lord, making our lives more miserable.
It’s estimated that there are nearly 7,500 promises God makes to us in the Bible, yet it seems we don’t pay much attention to them until we get in a “hopeless” situation. When our back is against the proverbial “wall,” that’s when we’re combing the Bible looking for a “promise” from God to heal or help us.
I read an article by Rick Reed that included the backstory for the song “Standing on the Promises” by Robert Carter. Carter came to the Lord at age 15 and was a gifted man who became a coach, ordained minister, doctor, musician, and songwriter. At age 30 he was diagnosed with a heart issue that threatened his life, so, like any of us who know and love the Lord, he prayed. But how he prayed was unique and worthy of sharing.
“Connie Ruth Christiansen, a teacher of college academics, the Bible, drama and music wrote of Carter, ‘He knelt and made a promise that healing or not, his life was finally and forever, consecrated to the service of the Lord.’ She added that Scripture took on new life for Carter. He truly began to lean on the promises that he found in the Bible.”
He didn’t try to bargain with God, he essentially prayed like Jesus in the Garden, “not my will but Yours be done.” The Lord gave him 49 more years and, though he had other physical issues with which he had to deal in his life, he didn’t die of heart problems.
When we stop “bargaining” and start committing all we are to all God is; when the Word of God, including all of God’s promises, becomes our constant companion; then we learn very quickly that God has never made, and will never make, a promise He doesn’t keep.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 