Infuse: Signs of His Promises

Signs of His Promises
By Jeff Reed

Does God keep His promises? Is there proof to justify the belief that He keeps His promises, or do we have to rely on blind faith that He will do what He tells us in His Word?

I stumbled across a couple of websites that insist there is no evidence God keeps His covenants with men. One declares “God is imaginary,” “prayer is pure superstition,” and “the Bible is repulsive.” It offers 50 proofs God does not keep His promises. Another website provides an annotated Bible that labels certain parts as “contradictions,” “absurdity,” “injustice” and “intolerance.” To an ignorant observer there may be basis to their claims. This is because these websites use no evidence from science or history to support their reasoning, but generally rely on quoting the Bible out of context. I was instantly reminded of what the apostle Peter wrote, “First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation’” (2 Peter 3: 3-4).

The promise of the return of Christ is still yet to be fulfilled, but the signs God has given to us of His already fulfilled promises can assure us of it. In the 23rd Psalm, King David uses the analogy of a shepherd caring for his sheep to describe how God had kept His promises to him. We can apply these scriptures to our own experience of fulfilled promises.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” Psalm 23:1

God has promised we shall never be in need. If we put Him first in our lives we can be assured He will take care of our secondary requirements. Christ tells us to, “not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26). I have been a Christian for over 13 years and have seen God provide for my basic needs even when my circumstances looked bleak.

A few months after I was baptized, I was stranded in a blizzard. My car slid off the side of the road and I was stuck in over 15 inches of snow. I was the only one on the interstate and was 40 miles from home. I was not near any buildings or homes in which to seek shelter. Blizzards in my home state of Alabama are rare, so I was not prepared. I only had a thin coat with a broken zipper to keep me warm and no gloves. I got out of my car and began to walk. Cell phones were not common back then, so I couldn’t call anyone for help. Needless to say, this was a low point in my life. As I was walking through the snow I asked “My Shepherd” for help. Within minutes, a 4-wheel drive truck pulled up next to me and the driver told me to get in. He went 80 miles out of his way and drove to me to my front door. I was not in want.

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.” Psalm 23:2

God has promised to give us direction. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105). The Word of God, His Law, and most notably the Ten Commandments give solid direction for us to follow. It is common knowledge that having goals and living according to solid moral principles have the natural result of true success in life. I have read through countless self help books, listened to numerous motivational speakers and have come to understand that none of them are as valuable as God’s Word. The results of God’s law in practice are a clear sign of a fulfilled promise.

“He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:3

God has promised to forgive us so that we may be given His righteousness. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:17-19). We are restored to a perfect state not by anything we can do for ourselves. It is only by the blood of Christ. Jesus’ sacrifice was promised in Isaiah 53:5, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities.” This was written over 700 years before it was fulfilled. This is clearly a sign of God keeping a promise.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

God promised to give us comfort. “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you” (John 14: 16-17, KJV) This promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts, when God gave His Holy Spirit to the church. I understand this promise firsthand because I have the Spirit of God inside me.

Three years ago I was in the hospital recovery room after having surgery to remove cancer from my chest. The drugs they were giving me gave me no comfort. But the Holy Spirit comforted me. I had peace, joy, and hope when by the worlds reckoning I should have had none. Everyone who has God’s Spirit can confirm the love of God in his or her lives along with me. Just ask them. This is a clear sign that only can be experience by baptized members of the Church of God.

”You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23: 5-6

God promises us eternal life. “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (2 Corinthians 1: 21-22). If we have His Spirit, we are guaranteed eternal life. That is a tremendous promise and sign to believers. It is something that will not be completely fulfilled until the return of Christ, but we can experience it now. Our eternal life begins today.

Skeptics may scoff about God’s promises. Fortunately, one day they will understand. For us, we can experience those promises now. i