Focus: The Promises (Pt.2)

Text: 2Pet.1:4

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises…"

God is the giver of the promises, and He is capable and reliable. Paul tells us that Abraham was "being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform" (Rom.4:21). God makes promises and performs them accordingly. He has infinite capacity for that. Also, Peter describes the divine promises as being "exceeding great and precious." The promises are indeed mega promises. 

The promises are superlative and superfluous, profound and magnificent, real and awesome. The promises are in abundance, and they take us from time to eternity. At every point in time, and in every situation, there's always a promise to claim. The promises inspire hope in us, stir up our hearts, and steer or govern our lives. We are saved, sanctified and secured by these promises. 

Paul declares, "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" (2Cor.7:1). The author of Hebrews tells us what to do with the promises. He says, "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having SEEN them afar off, and were PERSUADED of them, and EMBRACED them, and CONFESSED that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Heb.11:13). By faith the patriarchs welcomed and embraced future promises as present realities. They saw the promises of God from a long distance and hugged them like they were already in the present, visible and tangible in their lives. By our telescopic faith we can sight the promises in the distance, by our imaginative faith we become persuaded or convinced of them, and with our hearts of faith we can warmly embrace and tenaciously lay hold on them.

These promises make us to lead holy, hopeful and faithful lives. By these promises our hearts are assured and our future is made.

The promises are vast and varied, and our hearts are set on fire by them. The promises make us do certain things. They make us cleanse ourselves from the filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, and they make us perfect holiness in the fear of God. The author of Hebrews says, "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through FAITH and PATIENCE inherit the promises" (Heb.6:12). Yes, we inherit or possess the promises by faith and patience. We completely believe the promises and earnestly wait for them. We live our lives, always looking forward to something divine and real.

The psalmist says, "Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass" (Ps.37:5). Through our commitment and obedience of faith God makes His word real in our lives. 

God fulfills the conditional promises in our lives through our obedience and submission.

Our experience of them is hinged on doing what God requires of us. We must trust God to do what He has promised us.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter