So Many Promises

Politicians. Promises. They're almost synonyms. We've got two months of campaigning to go and we're already on promise overload. "He broke his promise!" "He can't keep that promise!" "If I'm elected, I promise..."

Elections raise hopes. Reality often crushes them. The promises often seem to get swept away and trashed with the victory celebration confetti.

Fact is, no politician keeps all their promises. Sometimes because they never meant to. Sometimes because of unforeseen circumstances. And often just because he/she simply doesn't have the power to deliver what was promised.

But it's not just politicians. We parents make a lot of promises - too many of which we either forget, neglect or just fail to keep. The promiser may forget. The promisee never does. Most of us can still remember, many years later, the parents' promises that never happened.

We make promises at work, at church, to friends. Raising expectations, then dashing them by never following through. We lose what takes years to gain and a day to lose - trust. We shake our heads in disgust at the politicians' words that seem so hollow in the light of their broken promises. Forgetting the "trail of tears" we ourselves have left with things we said, but never did.

I stood before an altar years ago and made some of the biggest promises of my life. I told the woman I loved - and, more importantly, God - that I would love, care for and be committed to her "'til death do us part." She staked her life on my promise. And the Lord was "acting as the witness" of my "marriage covenant" (Malachi 2:14). I need to listen again to those promises I made that day. And be sure I'm keeping them.

I learned the hard way to, in every relationship, think before you promise. And do whatever it takes to deliver when you do. As the Bible says, "it is better not to vow than to make a vow and not fulfill it. Do not let your mouth lead you into sin" (Ecclesiastes 5:5-6). King David described the man who God will honor as one "who keeps his oath even when it hurts" (Psalm 15:4).

After so many soaring speeches at both political conventions, I wrote these words in my personal journal: "This political season shows that humans promise what they ultimately lack the power to deliver. And hopes are dashed. But my hope is based on a Savior who, by beating death, has shown He can do anything and everything He's promised!" Man, that's awesome!

He promised, "My God will supply all your need" (Philippians 4:19) - and, in a thousand amazing ways, He always has. He said, "Your strength will equal your days" (Deuteronomy 33:25), and there's never been a day He didn't deliver. He promised that "they who honor Me I will honor" (1 Samuel 2:30), and He's come through every time I've risked to do the right thing. He told me, "I am the Lord your God who directs you in the way you should go" (Isaiah 48:17), and He's done it at every crossroads.

I am sure, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that He will keep the promise on which my eternity rests - "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life...you who believe in the name of the Son of God...know that you have eternal life" (1 John 5:11-13).

I have no fear of death. I have no doubt about heaven. Because I've put my trust in the only One who can forgive my sins - the One who died for them. I trust in the only One who can give me eternal life - the One who walked out of His grave.

I can plant both my feet on His promises - and know He will deliver. He has no unforeseen circumstances. He cannot lie. And nothing is too hard for the Lord.