What Is A Promise Worth?

There is a TV commercial currently running which has a man leaning against his pickup truck as the commercial begins. When he begins to speak, he says,

“What is a promise? A promise is nothing; it’s not worth a dime; it doesn’t mean a thing. A promise is flimsy and frail and full of uncertainty. You can change a promise, go back on a promise; forget you even made a promise. A promise is nothing – until it’s kept. Then, a promise is everything. “

Then the man is replaced on the screen with the following words: “Promises kept, plain and simple. Security-Health Plan.”

The man’s statement is, of course, absolutely wrong. The statement reflects the current thinking of our culture where a person’s word and integrity mean nothing.

It is true that people often change a promise or go back on a promise or forget they made a promise. To many people promises do mean nothing.

Promises, however, are worth a lot. They do mean something. Just ask anyone to whom a promise has been made that has not been kept. A broken promise can destroy a relationship. That is how significant they are.

Promises are especially significant to God. We have certainly come to understand that as we have gone through The Story this year. This coming Sunday, September 1, we will complete the Old Testament portion of The Story. As we have explored the Old Testament, we have seen promise after promise that God made to his people that he kept. Indeed the entire Bible story and the mission of God is all about promises made and promises kept. Without the certainty of God’s promises being fulfilled, the Bible story and the work of Christ would be meaningless. How can you trust a God who makes promises that he does not keep?

Consider some of the promises God made in the Old Testament:

• To Abraham: “I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2).
• To Abraham: “Look toward heaven, and number the stars. If you are able to number them…. So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5).
• To Jacob: “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and your offspring” (Genesis 28:13).
• To David: “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:16).
• To Ahaz: “Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Space prohibits me from going further. All the promises of God have been kept. To paraphrase the commercial: “Promises kept, plain and simple. God’s security plan.”

As we continue through The Story for the next three months, we will see the fulfillment of God’s most important promise: his promise to send a Messiah, one who saves people from their sins. And standing in the balance is God’s final promise: he will bring an end to death and give eternity with him to all who believe in his Son. That is a promise you can trust.