 |
|
| Volume 22 Number 6 June 2020 | Page 3 |
|
|
| Volume 22 Number 6 June 2020 | Page 3 |
An Eternal Warranty
Robert Johnson
Most people want to know about the warranty when they buy something of significant value. Will it last? What will the company’s response be if something goes wrong, if it needs adjusting or if some type of repair is required? I remember years ago when the government changed the conditions of a lifetime warranty to be rephrased as a limited lifetime warranty. It didn’t sound quite the same as it had previously. However, if the company that makes a product goes out of business, the warranty usually is gone as well.
It reminds me of something my dad told me years ago. “A promise is only as good as the one making it.” Warranties are only good as long as companies honor them or stay in business to honor them. In like manner, a person’s word is only as good as the integrity of the person. It’s easy to make promises but something else to fulfill them. Many times, excuses follow promises, or the person who made the promise conveniently disappears.
Aren’t you glad our God is faithful in His promises? What promises He makes to us! Peter reminds us how wonderful they are. “By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires” (2 Peter 1:4). Just thinking of what He promised us should cheer any heart. He has promised to be with us always (Matthew 28:20). He has promised us eternal life (1 John 2:25). He has promised His help and strength through the course of our lives (2 Thessalonians 3:3). He promises never to allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist (1 Corinthians 10:13). He promises Heaven will far exceed any suffering we endure here and now (Romans 8:18). How many more could we mention? In all of them, God will be true to do what He has said.
What confidence this should give us in living the Christian life! Since we know God will do all He has said, we should be highly motivated to do our best for Him. With every expression of love His promises show us, our love should be returned in offering ourselves to Him (1 John 4:19). We should not let Satan rob us of our joy, substituting fear and doubt in place of God’s promises. We can take heart because Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33), and we share His victory (1 Corinthians 15:57).
We may not know whether earthly promises will stand, but we never should ever doubt the promises of God. Rejoice in His love, His help, His hope and His salvation. None of these will ever fail. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love is eternal” (Psalm 136:1).
Gary C. Hampton
John and Paul both expressed a longing for the Lord. Jesus’ reassuring statement at the end of His revelation to John is, “Surely I am coming quickly.” The response of the exile on Patmos is like a shouted plea, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). Paul’s closing words to the church of God in Corinth include, “O Lord, come!” (1 Corinthians 16:22b).
This longing is the undergirding of all faithful Christians. Hebrew converts were reminded that God’s Son “was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).
Christians can confidently long for Jesus because He is our Anchor. The inspired penman said, “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil” (Hebrews 6:19). We need an anchor to avoid drifting (Hebrews 2:1). Our Lord serves as a perfect Anchor, having offered His blood on the Father’s ultimate mercy seat in Heaven to atone for our sins (Hebrews 8:5; 9:3, 7-8, 12).
A confident longing for Jesus also arises from the fact that He is our Forerunner, having gone like a scout to prepare our way to Heaven (Hebrews 6:20a). He told the apostles He would go prepare a place and come back for them (John 14:1-6). He suffered through the agony of the cross to lead the way to our heavenly home (Hebrews 5:7-9).
We should confidently long for Jesus because He is our High Priest forever (Hebrews 6:20b). There was a continual replacing of the man who served as the Aaronic High Priest under the Law of Moses because each of them died. Jesus ever lives so he can save us completely (Hebrews 7:24-25). He was the perfect sacrifice because He is holy, free from guilt, unsoiled by sin, separated from sinners and lifted up above the heavens (Hebrews 7:26). He put Himself on the altar once for all time so we could have freedom from our sins (Hebrews 7:27).
Let us join John, Paul and other first century Christians in longing for the Lord. That powerful desire can sustain us until He returns to claim His own.
[Editor’s Note: Prosperity and cherishing this present world more than one should love it can divert the child of God’s attention and lead him to despise both his passing from life into eternity and the ultimate Second Coming of Jesus Christ (James 4:4; 1 John 2:15-16). “…Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world…” (2 Timothy 4:10 NKJV). ~ Louis Rushmore, Editor]