Can you imagine having a guarantee that has been drafted by the best advocate in the world? A guarantee that is so ironclad, not even the most savvy lawyer can find a single fault in it or wrangle their way out of it? Or a promissory note that is so watertight, the issuer has to pay up in line with the agreed terms?

 “The LORD’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over (Psalm 12:6, NLT).  The NIV translation says they are flawless… like gold refined seven times. I was reflecting on this verse recently. As I did so, I recalled that seven symbolises perfection and completeness. God’s promises are therefore like a legal guarantee that has been drafted to perfection. God’s promises stand pure, complete and perfect on their own, with no faults or failings within. That should come as no surprise really, because all God’s works are perfect (Deuteronomy 32:4, Psalm 18:30). 2 Corinthians 1:20 tells us that “all the promises of God in Christ are Yes and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.” As the AMP version puts it, “For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are [all answered] “Yes.” So through Him we say our “Amen” to the glory of God.” In other words, once a promise has been given from God, because of Christ, and as we remain in Christ, there is an automatic stamp of yes to our benefitting from that promise. Isn’t that amazing?

Hebrews 6:18 (NLT) goes on to tell us that “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.” God will not lie to us. In fact he cannot even lie to us. It is like a lion trying to fit into a mousehole, it just can’t happen. The magnitude and nature of the lion’s form won’t allow it. So it is with God’s nature. He is truth and faithfulness personified (John 14:6; 16:3, Psalm 33:4, 36:5). This nature is permanent, He does not change (Malachi 3:6, Psalm 119:90). James 1: 17 gives us more insight into God nature as “the Father of heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” In other words, there are no uncertainties or maybes with God. Trusting God’s promises is not like watching a sporting event, where people place bets because some level of uncertainty exists. Even when a strong team is playing a much weaker team, such uncertainties still exist. You’ve probably heard stories of Davids pulling last minute victories and stunning powerful Goliaths. However, with God, none of that uncertainty exists. In summary, if you want a sure-fire way to lose a bet, then bet against God’s promises coming to pass. As Jesus said in Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” God’s words and promises are too pure, too impregnable, too powerful for any polluting or adulterating source to even attempt to taint or affect their viability.

Not only are the promises of God pure, God Himself watches over them to perform these promises. Imagine cooking a dish and watching over it, so that it cooks to perfection. Not slightly undone, Not slightly burnt. Just perfect. In Jeremiah 1:12b (BSB), the LORD says, “for I am watching over My word to accomplish it.” In other words, God is actively watching over His promises to make sure they come to pass. Wow! This means that we can be confident in both the Source of the Word and its journey to fulfilment. Isaiah 55:10-11 (BSB) states, “For just as rain and snow fall from Heaven and do not return without watering the Earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.” God not only watches over His Word, He watches over us and strengthens us while we wait for His promises to come to pass. “For the eyes of Yahweh move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose hearts are wholly devoted to Him” (2 Chronicles 16:9, LSB).

As such, if we believe we have God’s pure promises, and we have God watching over them to make sure they come to pass, then it is only natural that we can trust that His promises WILL come to pass. We can “hold resolutely to the hope we confess, for He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23); Yes He who calls us is faithful and will do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24). Trusting in God’s promises starts from the mind, but it doesn’t stay there, the evidence of this trust should show in our actions. We can see from the life of Jesus that He had full confidence in His Father’s promises, and it was evident in the way He prayed, acted, and lived His life. For instance, Jesus knew that God promises to hear us when we call (Psalm 34:17, Isaiah 65:24, Jeremiah 29:12, 1 John 5:14). As such, when He was at Lazarus’ grave, we can see that this influenced how He prayed. “Then Jesus looked up to heaven and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. You always hear me, but I said it out loud for the sake of all these people standing here, so that they will believe you sent me.” Then Jesus shouted, “Lazarus, come out!”” (John 11: 41b-43). What confidence! Three words, and a dead man rose again.

In Mark 4:38-40, Jesus was in the boat with His disciples and in the middle of a storm, He slept. Not even an ounce of panic. It is interesting to note that even though Jesus was in the boat, there were still storms. That means that if we experience storms, it does not mean that Jesus is not with us. The storms did not shake His confidence though. Jesus was assured of His Father’s purpose, will and plan for His life. I remember reading somewhere that the amount of peace we have is a measure of the assurance of God’s words and promises we have in our lives. Craig Groeschel also notes that “What you worry about the most reveals where you trust God the least.” May we receive grace to trust God more in every area of our lives.

 “Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your covenant is trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.” David utters these words in 2 Samuel 7:28, when he is overwhelmed by God’s promises to him. Reading that makes me think of some of God’s good promises to us. His presence (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20), His salvation (John 3:16-18, Romans 10:13), His provision (Psalm 23:1, Matthew 6:28-34), His protection (Psalm 34:7, Proverbs 4:6, John 10:28-29, 2 Thessalonians 3:3), His healing (Exodus 15:26, Psalm 147:3, 1 Peter 2:24, James 5:15), His grace (John 1:16, Titus 2:11, Ephesians 4:7, Hebrews 4:16, James 4:6), His mercy (Isaiah 54:7-10, Luke 1:50, Hebrews 8:12)… the list goes on and on. Of course, as with all guarantees, there are expected behaviours on the part of the recipient to make it binding, trusting and obeying God’s words being two of such. For this post though, my aim is to focus on the wealth of promises we have in Christ in God, in the hope that this will deepen our reverence, faith and trust in God, and consequently encourage our hearts and minds as we trust in Him.

I pray that as we reflect on this, we will continue to hold on to God’s promises, remembering that “nothing compares to the promise we have in Him”* and Our God has “a track record of keeping His Word.”** May we remember that these promises have been commissioned, purified, fine-tuned by God Himself, and are a solid, secure, steadfast rock we can bank on, any day, anytime, anywhere. May we continue to cling steadfastly to the hope we have in God’s promises, always remembering that Our Abba who has made these promises is perfect, faithful, watchful, wise. And, He never ever ever fails.

Image source here.

*Shout to the Lord by Hillsong Worship.

**Olorun Agbaye – You are Mighty by Nathaniel Bassey.