“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” 2 Peter 1:4
A promise is “a declaration, written or verbal, made by one person to another, which binds the person who makes it, either in honor, conscience or law, to do or forbear a certain act specified.” (Webster’s 1828 dictionary). There was a time when promises were made by the spoken word or a handshake, and there was no doubt that those making the promises would keep them. That is not so today.
A person’s word or handshake doesn’t mean the same today as it did in bygone years. Promises are broken much more often today than in the past. For example, marriage vows traditionally include the promise to remain married until death, yet divorce rates skyrocket with approximately 40-50% of marriages in America ending through legal separations. Another example is seen when politicians make a plethora of promises during their campaigns. Often those promises fall by the wayside once the politician is in office. Lastly, think about advertising. How many products promise outcomes that never come to fruition? Use a specific toothpaste for shiny white teeth, or drink a particular drink and the pounds will fall off. We are faced with broken promises in so many aspects of life that it can make a person skeptical when hearing someone say, “I promise!”
There is, however, one who has never broken a promise. When God makes a promise, He keeps it! His promises are all throughout the Bible. A few examples include the promise of a son to Abraham and Sarah, the promise to never again destroy the world by a global flood, and the promise to send us a Saviour. Each of these promises was made and kept by God, and there are many more promises in the Scriptures that record how God has kept His word.
Here are five promises made by God that I especially love. One has been fulfilled in my life; one is in progress, and the last three are those whose fulfillment I am highly anticipating!
Great and Precious Promises of God
- Promise of the Holy Spirit – “Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.” (Acts 2:33) God fulfilled this promise to me when I accepted Christ as my Saviour.
- Promise of long life – “Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)” (Ephesians 6:2; see also Exodus 20:12) The Bible says that man lives approximately threescore and ten (70) years. I am not that old yet, but I am living out that promise right now!
- Promise of eternal life – “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.” (1 John 2:25) One day, I will go to heaven and eternity with God will begin. This is a future promise for me.
- Promise of the crown of life – “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” (James 1:12) This is a future promise that will be fulfilled when I am in heaven.
- Promise of Jesus’ return – “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) This is a future promise, but there are signs that it could be fulfilled very soon.
Because God has never failed to keep a promise, it gives me the assurance that what He has promised regarding the future will come to pass. God has never made a promise He did not intend to keep. His Word is solid and true; we can depend upon it forever.
Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring,
Glory in the highest, I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Savior;
Standing, standing,
I’m standing on the promises of God.
(from “Standing On The Promises” by Russell Kelso Carter)
“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” Isaiah 54:10
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“I build on Christ, the rock of ages; on his sure mercies described in his word, and on his promises, all which I know are yea and amen.” – John Wesley