“They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” – Lamentations 3:22
The most famous geyser in the world is undeniably Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park with over a million eruptions since its discovery in 1870. It is aptly named because its eruptions are fairly predictable at every 60-110 minutes. However, Old Faithful’s “faithfulness” only has a 90 percent confidence rate, which means that while it puts on a dynamic show every 60-110 minutes, its schedule of eruption is not completely reliable. The time of each eruption is influenced by the duration and height of the previous eruption.
As I thought about this geyser’s dependability in eruptions, I reflected upon the faithfulness of God, and I rejoiced that God doesn’t operate with a 90% confidence rate. Can you imagine what it would be like to depend upon a God whose faithfulness was NOT 100%?
Imagine the impact with a few familiar verses if God had a track record as “faithful” as Old Faithful.
1) Deuteronomy 7:9
- 90% – “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the 90% faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”
- 100% – “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”
2) 1 Corinthians 10:13
- 90% – “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is 90% faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
- 100% – “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
3) 1 Peter 4:19
- 90% – “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a 90% faithful Creator.”
- 100% – “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”
4) 1 John 1:9.
- 90% – “If we confess our sins, he is 90% faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
- 100% – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
5) Revelation 21:5
- 90% – “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And hesaid unto me, Write: for these words are true and 90% faithful.”
- B) 100% – “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”
A 90% confidence rate is great if you’re a geyser, but not if you’re the God of the universe!
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be!
Great is Thy faithfulness, great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
(from “Great is Thy Faithfulness” by Thomas O. Chisholm)
“God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” – 1 Corinthians 1:9
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I am so glad that I serve a 100% faithful God! What about you?