The Certainty of God’s Promises

Hebrews 6:16–20
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We are living in a day when it is hard to trust people. Promises are often made with very little intention of their being kept. It seems that lying has become the norm in much of society. In fact, even in the Church people promise to do things and then never show up. The question is - In whom can we trust? Without reservation the answer given in this portion of Scripture is that it is God. Whatever He says will happen you can be sure it will happen.

When people take an oath they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding (v. 16). God has also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received His promise can be perfectly sure that He will never change His mind (v. 17). This means that God has given us both His promise and His oath. It is impossible for God to lie, so these two things can not change (v. 18). Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to His promise with confidence (v. 19). Jesus has become our eternal High Priest in the line of Melchizedek (v.20).

The main point of this entire passage is that God’s promise did not depend on anyone’s faithfulness, but His own. It is unchangeable because of His promise and His pledge and cannot be turned around or altered. This means that when we come to Christ there is nothing to fear. Our security is not in our never letting go of God, but that He will  never let go of us.

Application

What area of life has been the hardest for me to trust God in? In what new area do I need to trust Him today? I want to be a man of integrity, and a person who can be trusted. When I promise that I am going to do something, by God’s grace I want to do it.