Pastor's Corner: Promises, promises

Let's face it, we've all faced some dreadful days lately. Don't even try to deny it. As I write this, voters have yet to go to the polls. Even today, I dread going to the mailbox only to find it stuffed with paper representations of money well wasted. I dread answering the phone when it nags in the evenings. I dread turning on the TV at home, turning on the radio in my car, even checking my e-mail that's spattered with click-bait political ads.

And I'm convinced that you dread these things too.

By the time this little monologue goes to press, we will know the outcome of all this dread-bearing mayhem. Or, perhaps even more dreadfully, we won't. Who do voters choose? Whose policies will filter to the list of top priorities in the next four years? How many promises will have been made, but not kept?

Thomas Fuller once wrote, "Men apt to promise, are apt to forget."

We've all experienced broken promises in our lives. Chances are we've broken a few ourselves. But perhaps especially in these days, let us not overlook the promises of God.

"For my thoughts  are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways" declares the  Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9).

We may be apt to forget our promises, but God doesn't, because He doesn't stoop down to our level as He campaigns for our hearts. God maintains a much higher standard.

God keeps promises to build trust, not collect votes. His promises demonstrate reliability and integrity. Someone who sticks to their word and keeps their promise is someone you can count on. Someone you can lean on.

Whether or not your candidate won the election, or if we even know yet, lean into the promises of God.

Have you noticed a rainbow anywhere lately? (If you haven't any preschooler will gladly point one out to you.) That is a reminder that God promised never to flood the earth again. He has yet to go back on His word.

God promised a Savior, a seed of a woman, who would crush the head of sin. And later this Savior was further identified as a son of Abraham, then further promised to be an heir to David's throne, then further promised to come from Bethlehem Ephrathah and yet still come out of Egypt. He was promised to be born of a virgin and become a suffering servant.

Through Jesus Christ, all of those promises have been kept. Hebrews 10:23 assures us that He who promised is faithful to keep his word. Though people and politicians may fail you, trust God when He promises, "I will never leave you nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5).

He can do this because He has established his throne  in heaven, and his kingdom rules  over all (Psalm 103). God is in control and reigns over all of the nations, (Psalm 47:8) including ours.

So if current events are weighing you down with the dread of empty promises, take an eternal perspective – the one that promises that you are not just one among the many numbers, but that you are seen by a gracious God who loves you and cares about you – so much so, that keeping His promises to you are His top priority.

--

Theresa Danley, CLP

Milk River Churches