Promises, Promises, Promises
Charlie and Raelene were so excited they couldn't sleep. They tossed and turned. Lay in bed fantasizing about tomorrow. Tomorrow! Why tomorrow all those promises made over the last twelve months were about to become true. In their little minds and hearts they'd dreamed for months about tomorrow morning. They could hardly wait.
Then they heard the first birdcalls heralding that tomorrow had become today. Jumping out of bed they almost knocked each other over as they hurried down stairs to the lounge room. Breathlessly they ran to the bottom of the tree. Glancing quickly at the labels, Lynne grabbed a box with her name on it. Tearing off the wrapping she prized open the lid and cried with exalted excitement and glee, "I've got it." "I've got it." "Oh I've got it." Almost unbelievingly she clung to her new precious doll.
Charlie more matter-a-factly gingerly unwrapped an oddly shaped parcel with his name written in big bold letters on it. He held a bright red new Sherrin football. What's more, it was adult size. Those promises had come true he reflected wistfully. It was Christmas morning.
Promises can have a huge effect on our psyche. The more valued the promise the more likely it is to impact our behaviour and our dreams. Charlie and Lynne were motivated to "be good" because of what was promised. They just lived for that day!
Almost daily we are being bombarded with promises by would be parliamentarians. There is claim and counter claim telling us why we can't believe the promises made by the other side. We, the public, are more than sceptical. How often are these promises ever actually kept?
In contrast to fickle humans God delivers on His promises. God promised to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan - now Israel. Just over 400 years later God's promise came true. Through Isaiah the prophet God promised that Jesus would be born of a virgin. Six hundred years later the promise came true.
God has given you and I very precious promises. Promises guaranteed by his character. And we can trust him to deliver. “. . . through our knowledge of God who called us by his own glory and goodness/salvation . . . God has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” 2 Peter 1:3–4.
The New Testament is resplendent with promises: Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. I will never leave you. The dead in Christ will be raised. I will come again. Make your own list. Let them dominate and motivate you.
Dr Keith Graham