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Hoekstra: God’s Faithfulness and His Promises

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Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
(Hebrews 10:23)

Previously, we’ve reflected upon God’s ability in conjunction with His promises. The capability of the one making promises is strategic when promises are made. When relating God’s ability to His promises, we have full assurance that He can fulfill what He has promised to do. “Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You…Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for Me?” (Jeremiah 32:17, 27). Our Lord created all the universe, and He is ruler over all of humanity. Surely, He is able to fulfill all of His promises.

Now, we have another issue to consider: faithfulness. When promises are made, faithfulness is just as important as ability. It is vital to know that the one promising is not only able, but is also reliable. In our present verse, we are given reason to exercise unwavering confidence in God, based upon His faithfulness. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”

In the book of Hebrews, we are given a recurring call to stand firm in the hope of the Lord. To participate more and more in the reality of being God’s spiritual household here on earth, we are to confidently embrace throughout our pilgrimage the hope that is available in our Lord: “whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:6). To fully partake of all that is ours in Christ, we are to persistently cling to Him by faith right up to our last days on earth. “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end” (Hebrews 3:14).

Our present verse also stresses persistent faith in the hope of the Lord. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering.” This persistence of trust in God is related to His promises and His faithfulness. “For He who promised is faithful.” We can cling tightly to the promises of God. We can confidently hope in God’s fulfilling His promises to us. We do not need to waver in doubt, because God is reliable. He is trustworthy. He is faithful.

Dear God of faithfulness, how delightful to realize that my persistence of faith in You hinges on Your faithfulness toward me. I see that I can continue to depend upon You, because you are fully faithful to me. What expectation this gives me as I consider Your great promises! You will be faithful to fulfill every one of them, as I place my trust in You!

Comments

  1. The faithfulness of God was lived, was expressed in Jesus. He became flesh and dwelt among us. God did not merely ask us to believe He completed the death of His flesh to wrest the keys of Hell and death.
    1Cr 2:8
    He is throughout the rightful owner, God of all creation. Who can doubt God without limit, Who is present, Who owns everything and will accomplish His purpose, His Word.
    How faithful is God Who has even endured death for His purpose, Savior, Jesus. None could dare the indescribable faithfulness, the glory of God.
    Those that trust in His faith are faithful. Those that turn aside or quit are not. Those that repent are restored with the only limit being their last living breath.

    • Such a wonderful witness Mark and so very true. We can become blind to our sin but God is ever faithful to help us come to realization if we will accept His council and seek Him in our daily walk.

      His love like shimmering moonlight on the surface of a lake of living water ever reflects His glory and goodness. His still small voice like a cool spring breeze after a summer storm wafts gently and sweetly calling us home. To repentance, to the ever loving arms of a forgiving Father whose love never changes and who delights in our heartfelt cries for forgiveness. What glory is found when self is buried and we are born again, our destiny changed our future secure and eternal.

  2. Nice Post

    God is Faithful–yes He is

    He can’t lie either,

    He can’t change and unable to change, matter or truth He changes not

    If he said He would do something I guess He has to–to keep His Word, after all He magnified His Word above His name.

    Now how important is His Word?

    He says what He means and means what He says

    Wow what a God to worship, It’s comforting to know this, because if you know a promise, all you have to do is claim it then, that settles it–God has to come through for you, just has to. Why? He’s Faithful to His word, that easy.

    This reminds me of the parable in the gospels about the “sower of the seed” — the key for the parable was the “promises of God” is the seed. interesting

    I love this parable, because it teaches us not to have excuses about God’s promises, because we know the promise comes to pass if we believe in that promise of God, whatever that promise is. Wow how many are there? Someone counted over 900 and some, that’s a lot.

    The seed, what do we know about the seed for it to germinate?

    * You have to prep the ground, rock out, weeds out, etc..
    * fertilizer the ground
    * You have to plant it
    * water it
    * Pull weeds so the seed doesn’t get chocked by the weed
    * water again-daily watering
    * investigate if the fruit isn’t maturing at it full ability
    * Then reap it–pick the fruit and enjoy it

    When it comes to God’s promises, we have the same effort involved to reap the deliverance don’t we. Is that cool to see and understand the connection that Jesus taught us?

    Patience is a key
    Honest heart is a key
    Good heart is a key

    Key for what? Well, how far will you get in life with out a honest Heart with God? or anyone? not vary far right?

    Good stuff, I pray this helped someone, that is working hard and that promises just isn’t coming true yet. Well stick in there and keep pulling the ugly weeds in your life and God has and will have your back, just me, He didn’t go anywhere. It’s just us at times that need a reminder or two. I have a little phrase I say to myself to keep myself sharp on the Word.

    “check the neck up”

    anyway God Bless, this should help someone,

    Thanks Chris for the opportunity,

    Jim

  4. “A complete life is the life of a child. When I am fully conscious of my awareness of Christ, there is something wrong. It is the sick person who really knows what health is. A child of God is not aware of the will of God because he is the will of God. When we have deviated even slightly from the will of God, we begin to ask, “Lord, what is your will?” A child of God never prays to be made aware of the fact that God answers prayer, because he is so restfully certain that God always answers prayer.”

    – Oswald Chambers

  5. The statement we so often hear, “Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him— something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace.
    – Oswald Chambers

    Nothing “High Brow… oops, I mean “High Church”.

    J.