The Scriptures And The Promises # 4

 The Scriptures And The Promises # 4

Thus it was with Abraham: "Who against hope believed in hope...and being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb; he staggered not...through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God" (Romans 4:18-20).

Thus it was with Moses: "Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward" (Hebrews 11:26).

Thus it was with Paul: "I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told to me" (Acts 27:25).

Is it so with you, dear reader? Are the promises of Him who cannot lie, the resting place of your poor heart?

6. We profit from the Word when we patiently await the fulfillment of God's promises. God promised Abraham a son, but he waited many years for the performance of it. Simeon had a promise that he should not see death until he had seen the Lord's Christ (Luke 2:26), yet it was not made good until he had one foot in the grave.

There is often a long and hard winter between the sowing-time of prayer and the reaping of the answer. The Lord Jesus Himself has not yet received a full answer to the prayer He made in John chapter 17, nineteen hundred years ago. Many of God's promises to His people will not receive their richest accomplishment until they are in glory. He who has all eternity at His disposal needs not to hurry. God often makes us tarry so that patience may have "her perfect work," yet let us not distrust Him. "For the revelation awaits an appointed time, it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it lingers, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." (Habakkuk 2:3).

Various ends are accomplished by God in delaying His execution of the promises. Not only is faith put to the proof, so that its genuineness may the more clearly appear. Not only is patience developed, and hope given opportunity for exercise; but submission to the Divine will is fostered.

7. We profit from the Word when we make a right use of the promises. First, in our dealings with God Himself. When we approach unto His throne, it should be to plead one of His promises. Observe how Jacob pleaded the promise in Genesis 32:12; Moses in Exodus 32:13; David in Psalm 119:58; Solomon in 1 Kings 8:25; and you also, my Christian reader, do like wise.

"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1). That is the effect they should produce in us, and will if faith really lays hold of them. "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great an dprecious promises - that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4).

Now the gospel and the precious promises, being graciously bestowed and powerfully applied - have an influence on purity of heart and behavior, and teach men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly. Such are the powerful effects of gospel promises under the Divine influence as to make men inwardly partakers of the Divine nature and outwardly to abstain from and avoid the prevailing corruptions and vices of the times.

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)