God is Faithful

Moses stood atop Mount Sinai with the stone tablets of the Law in his hands. He spent forty days transcribing God’s words. He brought these words to the people but saw they already turned to worship idols. Smashing these words on the ground Moses again made the trek up the mountain. God repeated these words for Moses and at the end of it, Moses made a request of God. He wanted to see God’s glory. God came and stood with Moses and declared His name as He passed by. One of the ways God described Himself as was faithful.

God cannot deny Himself. He cannot change His nature to be something He is not. He is faithful. He keeps His promises. Psalm 146:6 (NIV) says God “remains faithful forever.” The NLT translates it as “He keeps his promises forever.” A promise is not something one can earn nor can it be taken away. It is something someone else says they will do for you. They can be delayed if I am not cooperating with Holy Spirit in preparation for their fulfillment but they will not be taken away. If I did not earn the promises then it follows that I cannot work to keep them. God is not going to take His promises from you. God’s gifts and call are irrevocable (Ro 11:29).

If you want proof that God keeps His promises, you need look no further than yourself. We are a fulfillment of a promise. God promised Abraham that not only would he have children but that nations would come from him. This promise of children to Abraham was based on his righteousness, not based on the law (Ro 4:13). If it was based on his actions, then his actions could prevent the promise from coming true. We are children of this promise. And if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise (Gal 3:29 NIV). Because of one man’s faith nations are blessed with the knowledge of Christ.

We can see God’s fulfillment of promise in the books of the prophets as well. In Ezekiel God promised to give His people a new heart and place His Spirit in them. In Isaiah and Jeremiah God promised to never remove His Spirit from us. He promised to restore us and renew us. We are living in the fulfillment of these promises.

I am a big deal!... and so are you!

You are a big deal to God. You are so valuable that Father launched a rescue mission for you. He loves you so much that He gave His Son as a ransom for you. We were born into an opposing kingdom. We were enemies of God. But then Jesus came and took our place. He paid the ransom price for us so we could be restored to God. He rose from the dead so we could have a relationship with our Father again.

You are such a big deal to God that He knows the number of hairs on your head (Lk 12:7). He knit you together in your mother’s womb (Ps 139:13). He knows the intricacies of your person. He knows this for millions of people and yet He knows your name (Isa 43:1). Our God is big. His very words formed the universe. This is the God who holds you in His hands. The same God who holds us close to His heart also measured the waters of the earth in the palm of His hand (Isa 40:11-12). He cares for you and loves you so deeply.

We do not need to fear God will leave us. He will never leave us (Dt 4:31, Ps 9:10). We are a big deal to Him and He is not going to let us get away. He loves us so He is not going to leave us. Even when we think we walk away, He is still there with us (Ps 139). He chose us as His own. He helps us and guides us. When we mess up, he does not throw us away; instead, He stands with us and helps us get back on track (Isa 41:8-10). Once we are in God’s family, that standing does not change. Our fellowship with Him may but our sonship in the family does not change (Lk 15:11-32).

He created the world for you. He created the earth to be inhabited (Isa 45:18). You have a place in this world. When we are tired, worn out and unable to rise, He gives us strength. He calls stars out one by one and does not grow tired:

Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:26-31 ESV)

Eagles have this incredible ability to tell when a storm is coming. Instead of wearying themselves by trying to fly against the storm or to fight the storm, they use the wind currents to lift themselves above the storm. They can be resting on the winds of the storm. When we wait on the LORD and a storm comes, He lifts us above the storm. We are still in it, but He is holding us right next to His heart.

If this is what God does for a bird, imagine what He does for his children! In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said He takes care of the birds and makes sure they have enough food even though they do not plant. He dresses the fields with flowers. The flowers do not sew their clothes out of fallen leaves or grass. Instead, God provides their “clothes” and beauty for them. He cares for us so much more than birds and flowers! We do not need to worry about our needs. Our Father knows what they are and He longs to meet those for us (Mat 6:25-34).