The Stars of the Heaven

“Whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30)

“Promises are made to be broken” is an often-used conversation device employed to describe the inability of well-intended people to keep their promises to themselves and others. This weakness in human behavior is not just a present-day experience. The history of this axiom has its roots in a Greek philosopher, Heraclitus of Ephesus, who was philosophizing before Socrates was born.

The Irish writer and satirist Jonathan Swift normalized this expression in his 1738 book  Polite Conversation. Humanity often has good intentions but often lack the ability to keep their promises; even to the ones they love.

We can be assured of this one thing, God is able to keep His promises. It is this knowledge of God’s faithfulness that gives us the faith to persevere in what appears, to us fallible mortals, impossible expectations.

The Bible makes this observation about Abraham’s life journey:

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." (Rom 4:20-21)

Abraham and Sarah were well beyond the age and ability to have children. Sarah was also barren from the day they married and yet God had promised Abraham he would have descendants that would populate the world like, “the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore.”(Gen 22:17)

This single act of faith was identified as the totality of all life’s accomplishments attributed to Abraham:

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.” (Heb 11:8)

When we find the will and way of God in our lives “staggering” remember; all God requires of you is faith. Your faith in God’s power to redeem you from the power of sin, to equip you for the life journey He leads you in and to complete your purpose while sojourning this world.

Facing the darkest days of his life in service to God; the Apostle Paul makes this observation about his faith in God:

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Ti 1:12)

We all will experience failures in our faith. Abraham, who was accredited with not “staggering” at the promise of God, had his moments of doubt where he stumbled but did not stagger. The key to faithfulness on the human side of faith is not attributing to God the fickleness of humanity.

When you find yourself stumbling in your walk of faith; use Peter as an example of how you will rebound from your stumbling:

“Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me." (Mat 14:29-30)

Peter realized that the one who gave him the faith to walk on water was also the person to trust in his faltering faith. Peter did not hide his face from Jesus in shame but looked into his eyes and cried, “save me.”

Often times our failures will cause us to “hide” from God as Adam and Eve did but remember God keeps His promises. Even if we do not keep the “human” side of the faith agreement. When Peter called on Jesus, as his faith failed him, Jesus reached out and lifted him from the sea and said, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Mat 14:29-31)

Were these words rebuffing Peter for his failure? I think not. I believe these words were words of affirmation. As Jesus lifted Peter from the water. He demonstrated His power to keep his side of the faith agreement. Although Peter had not been able to keep his side of the faith agreement; Jesus was able and willing to fulfill both sides of the agreement.

Peter asked if he could walk on water and he did. When his faith faltered, Jesus lifted him from the water and walked Peter to the boat. Peter still walked on the water back to the boat by the side of the Saviour! Do you need to walk on the water of the troubles in your life? Step out of the boat you are hiding in during the storm and walk towards Jesus. If you fail in your attempt to live in faith and trust, the worse outcome will be walking with the Saviour as He lifts you from your sea of trouble and despair.

Call on Jesus and He will empower you to live a life of faith.