Do you ever wonder why we care so much about things like this:
-- Am I as pretty as that girl?
-- Does that popular person like me?
-- Does this outfit look okay?
-- Does that guy think I’m cute?
Even we girls who follow Jesus are tempted to think the things of this world will fill up the longings in our heart; they often seem more real to us than the promises of God. Waiting for God to fulfill His promises can seem like wishing on a star or waiting for a fairy tale to come true. Not only that, but the empty promises around us are screaming for our attention!
Why are we tempted to buy more, do more, be more? I think it’s because we have a hard time believing God’s promises.
Children of the Promise
Do you know what the Bible calls believers in Christ? It calls us “children of the promise.” If we’ve been promised something, we’re still waiting for it. Paul says in Romans 8 that we’re waiting for the redemption of our bodies. He also says that the whole creation is groaning in the pains of childbirth waiting for the revealing of the children of God. We’re still waiting for Christ to return in all of His glory.
When you think of it like this, doesn’t it make sense that the things of this world would seem more real than the things God has promised us? It would seem like a good idea to indulge ourselves now because who even knows when all that Romans 8 stuff is going to happen, right?
And because all of creation is groaning and suffering in very real ways, our instincts tell us to reach for something, anything, to help ease our discomfort and anxiety.
The Promise Keeper
What do you reach for? Maybe it’s physical affection from your boyfriend that you know is going too far. Maybe it’s a double cheeseburger with supersized fries. Maybe it’s more clothes, jewelry, makeup, shoes, stuff . . .
Dear ones, we serve a massive, beautiful, all-powerful God whose goodness reaches far beyond the outer edges of this universe. His love for you and me could not be contained or stopped by anything—not by time or space or even our own rebellion against Him. And do you know something else about our God? He always, always, always keeps His promises.
For hundreds of years, God’s people waited for the Christ to arrive. They doubted the voices of the prophets and wondered if they had it all wrong. They slipped into idolatry over and over, yet God’s faithful promise kept rolling forward through history until it was just the right time. And in the most unlikely place at the most unlikely moment, the fulfillment of all those promises came bursting into reality in the birth of that tiny baby who would grow up to bear the sins of us all.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).
Right down to the last detail of the prophets’ predictions, God has kept His promise to us. And God is still keeping His promises. While we wait for His second coming (this time in full glory!), we trust that His Word is true and that He will never leave us or forsake us. We don’t have to gorge ourselves on empty promises anymore. Why?
For all the promises of God find their Yes in him (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Why don’t you take just a few minutes and write down Luke 2:11 and 2 Corinthians 1:20. Put these verses somewhere you can see them often and remind yourself of them regularly. The coming of Jesus is all the proof we need that our heavenly Father keeps His Word. We can trust Him with our hearts and our lives. Not one of His promises has failed, and every one of them finds its “yes” in Christ.
By Jennifer Case Cortez
