We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It’s an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us, in the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 6:18-20 (The Message)
Quite often, people will make promises to themselves and to others. Depending on what it is that we’re promising and the level of trust between us, we can give our word, we can swear on the lives of loved ones, or we can write out a legal contract stating the consequences if we don’t come through with our promise.
When Moses handed the leadership of his followers over to Joshua, he talked with them before they crossed over the River Jordan. In Deuteronomy 31:6, God tells the people to “Be strong. Take Courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give [your enemies] a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”
This is a promise that God made to the people who followed him. Jesus made the same promise before he ascended into heaven in Matthew 28:20, “I’ll be with you... day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”
The thing that we don’t factor into our plans is that God doesn’t seem to be too fond of speedy, direct answers. Have you ever noticed that many times, when we plot and plan out our actions to reach a goal, something will turn up to overset the whole scheme! And yet, maybe a week or so later, (possibly next month or five years down the road), the goal that we were trying to reach is accomplished—and not just accomplished but wrapped in gold tissue and tied with a silver bow!
God promises to never leave us. He’s sticking to us like glue! We may have wandered from his path, but he has never wandered from ours. I believe that, when we sincerely call upon God, he writes our names on the palms of his hands. If we later turn away and choose another path, our names are still on God’s palms.
God can’t swear on his mother’s life that he will keep his promises. Legal contracts are pretty meaningless if God is involved. God’s word, however, can be taken to the bank and cashed in gold bullion.
If you’re needing help with something, it might not hurt to try asking God. You can whisper your request, or you can shout it loudly. Just be prepared for a surprising answer from him. His answers can sometimes send us down totally different paths; but they will always lead us home.
Becky Gillette is a former teacher, newspaper reporter, and preacher who seeks to take an original approach to life’s lessons. She has recently published her first book, Jessie’s Corner: Something To Think About, which is now available for purchase. Based on several lesser-known scriptures from the Bible, this is a collection of articles which she wrote for a weekly newspaper.
