God, The Greatest Promise Keeper

Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

2 Peter 3:5 For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,

6 by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

7 But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Let’s look at what the Bible tells us here about the Word of God and the stability of the world.

Philosophically speaking, if the Word of God were to fail, existence itself would fail to hold together. I say, “Philosophically speaking,” because God’s word CAN NOT fail. Even trying to imagine what that could be like is to forget and contradict reality and truth.

The Bible teaches us that God’s word is both all powerful as well as absolutely true.

When God gives us His word, there is NO greater assurance. When God makes a promise, we can count on it.

On March 20, 1990 a movement was born called Promise Keepers. Bill McCartney, then football coach of the University of Colorado, and a small group of visionary men began praying and fasting for God to build a ministry to help men become more like Jesus Christ in maturity and personal integrity. The dream found its focus in being like God, who never lies, whose word is always true, whose purposes never fail, and whose promises are absolutely sure. If men who are made in God’s image are to realize our true identity and fulfill our designed purposes in life, we must become men who keep our word and honor our promises. By 1996 there were over 1.1 million men who gathered in stadiums all across the U.S. for two day conferences. Promise Keepers got lots of positive as well as negative attention from just about every quarter. Feminists hated them for not including women, several conservative evangelicals preached against them for being too inclusive.

Whatever anyone thinks about the “Promise Keepers” movement, everyone who knows the Bible can surely agree that God is the ultimate Promise Keeper. Turn with me to Joshua 21:44-45 & 23:14-16.

44 And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand.

45 Not one of the good promises which the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.

14 "Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed.

15 But just as every good promise of the LORD your God has come true, so the LORD will bring on you all the evil he has threatened, until he has destroyed you from this good land he has given you.

16 If you violate the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you."

Proverbs 30: 5 "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 6 Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.

God always keeps his promises. In fact, a good little exercise is to go through the Bible and read all the places where God says, “I will…” then go and discover where God did what he said he would do.

One of the places in scripture that is rich in “I will” promises by God is Genesis 17-18. (At least 20 times God says, “I will” or “I will not” here). Turn with me and let’s notice a few of these: (see chapters).

God does not give his promises lightly. All of his words are true. God teaches us to be like him in this and to do the same.

We all know of people who make empty promises but rarely follow through, don’t we? Do you know what that is called? Lying! One of the seven sins God hates is a lying tongue (Prov. 6:17). Indeed, Revelation 21:8 gives us a list of those who will be in hell and listed along with murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers and idolaters, the word of God says, “all liars will be thrown into the lake that burns with fire and brimstone.