Truly, we live in times where promises are broken, truces aren’t kept, and someone’s word is not nearly set by like it once was and still should be. The Bible did tell us that this circumstance was coming (II Timothy 3), but one of the side effects and products of this culture is that people become cynical in general and of promises in particular. II Corinthians 1:20 tells us that ALL of God’s promises are yea and amen. That means they are true (yea) and secure (amen). Another way of saying it is that all of God’s promises are verily real and so be it no matter what. For God’s sin-sick and world-weary family, this is a great comfort to have something to hold on to in a world that is shifting and tossed around on a daily, regular basis. Even the best men find themselves not honoring their word (if not in life, they fail to keep things because of the rendering asunder of death). For God, none of these issues plague Him, as nothing in life can keep Him from honoring and keeping His word and promises.
Ability: As we alluded to above, promises can be left hanging due to a lack of ability. There is probably not a one of us that has made a promise that we learned later we were incapable of keeping. Even with the best of intentions, we still failed to honor our word due to sheer inability. We clearly learn from the pages of Scriptures that God has all power (Revelation 19:6), and if someone is all-powerful, there is no lack of ability to keep Him from His purpose. Never does a child of God have to wander in wonder of whether God is able to do the things that He has promised to do. Never will He appear to us and say, “Well, I wanted to but I just couldn’t…” The greatest hope that we have regarding these promises is the great promise that we are in His hand and no man has the ability to pluck us from that power. (John 10:29)
Will: There are other times when someone has the ability to do something but lacks the will and conviction to do it. For example, people in positions of power have ability through their positions to fulfill ABC but lack the conviction to do it because it is not in their interest of XYZ. For God, He would have still been God without ever extending love and compassion to poor people as we. However, His will was perfectly in accord with His ability to save us to the uttermost. (Hebrews 7:25) From the moment that God intended to bring us into complete peace and harmony with Him, His will was fixed upon those precious objects (Isaiah 50:7), and combined with His august power and ability, no power or persuasion could or will keep Him from that purpose.
Character: One of the biggest issues today when it comes to promise-keeping is not the ability or the will but a lack of character within the individual to ultimately do it. Consider a bad boss or a faulty family member. They can do what they say, and they claim that they “really, really want to do it…” However, flaws of character and a lack of moral fiber leaves those promises unattended. God’s character is so pure that our sin-stained minds cannot comprehend how pure and holy He is. (I John 1:5) When He appeared on the mount of transfiguration or when He is prophesied of in the book of Revelation, His garments themselves show forth the manifestation of His just and pure character. Bright, white, shining, and even blinding. When I think of His character and the purity of His essence, my mind disappears into a realm that I can’t truly know while in this tabernacle of clay. To see Him in all His glory one sweet day, that first moment of knowledge of Him and the fulness of His character will cause such a cacophony of praise that He is deserving to receive.
While we sojourn in this uneven soil, may we remember that ALL of God’s promises have either been fulfilled, are being fulfilled, or will be fulfilled at the consummation of all things. Knowing that He has the strength, desire, and purity to bring about everything that He has declared is the hope of today, strength for tomorrow, and expectation of that which is to come. To faithfully serve and obey His principles today, we must start with these things as nothing He has ever promised can or will go lacking. Not just the promise of the world to come is sure, the promise of tomorrow is sure as well. We are not promised easy winds and clear days, but we are promised His unfailing presence and strength as our shield and exceeding great reward. Our life of discipleship is built upon the foundation of adoration by Him in sonship, and whether in life or in death, all those things fall squarely upon the assurance of the exceeding great and precious promises that He has given unto us and will keep them all to the full.