But You Promised!
Promises are a part of life. As children, we may have looked forward to receiving a promised item for accomplishments etc. We likely felt if our parents assured us of something, we could believe them, and then would receive it as promised. No doubt, when something did not materialize after we had been told it would, we accused: “but you promised”, in pleading for whatever had been the subject of the pledge. I suspect there are very few cases in which a child, upon returning home, when the parent seemingly forgot the promise of a spanking has come to the parent saying: “but you promised!”. We look forward to promises that are pleasing. But on the other hand, that which we deem hard or harsh, we’d just as soon ignore or forget. I’m convinced this is what many have done regarding God’s Word. Where God has promised peace, comfort, or other blessings, many say: “Yes please”, then often disregard the ‘conditions’ of such blessings. Jas. 4:3 shows the fallacy of Christians with such a selfish attitude. To ask ‘amiss’ is to forfeit. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
Many things asked of God by man fit Jas.4:3. Most promises God has made have conditions attached. To expect the things God has promised and ignore the specific requirements He has assigned to His promises is to ask inappropriately. For example: “If you do _____, then I’ll give ______.” When we ignore the “if” part, He who extended the promise is under no obligation to provide the “then” part. Unfortunately, the one who fails to receive because of their own failure to act appropriately usually places blame on the one who made the promise.
This is very easily seen in the way the world views God’s Promises. Many seek to be the beneficiary of much that God has offered yet refuse to follow God’s Word or do what God has Commanded. They are much like the petulant child who stomps the foot and cries out “but you promised!”, failing to admit they’ve not kept their end of the deal.
In 2Pet. 1:3-4, God’s Promises are called exceeding great and precious. God made these promises through His divine power. He gave man all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Christ. These verses also tell us that according to these promises we ‘might’ be partakers of the divine nature. Those who have “escaped the corruption that is in the world” had to do so in accordance with the gospel. We know God’s Promises to man in the New Testament are contained in the gospel. It is also through the gospel the Lord called man per 2Thess. 2:14.
As we continue reading in 2Pet. 1:5-7, we find a list of things to be added to one’s faith. Faith is where one’s obedience begins. These things are to be added by “giving all diligence”. Then we see the promise in verse 8. The benefit is: “if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Then we see another inspired guarantee in verse 10, and one is also reminded to be diligent. In the latter we read: “if ye do these things, ye shall never fall”.
Another verse that has inspired promise is Mark 16:16. This was just after Jesus’ resurrection as He issued the Great Commission to His apostles. He had just told them “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” He then said: “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.” These are promises of God. Strangely, there are those that want to be saved, but refuse to complete their obedience by being baptized in accordance with the gospel.
We are told in Psa. 111:7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. If His Commandments are sure, can we not see that His Promises are certain as well? Deut. 7:9 provides affirmation of this. Here God’s people were told: Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Just like the child who has been promised ‘a spanking’ hopes the parents forget, many of the folks of the world hope God will forget some Promises. Take for instance the Words of 2Thess 1:6-9. The brethren there are promised when this would occur and upon whom God’s vengeance would be directed. Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 7 And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 8 In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; The Christians in Rom. 12:19 were reminded that vengeance belongs to God. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.
God does not forget. 2Tim 2:19 says the “Lord knoweth them that are his.” This passage also tells us: Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Since the Lord knows all them that are His, He also knows who will suffer His wrath. It is all those who work iniquity. In Matt 7:23, the Christ made a promise. He said: And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. There will be no chance to, nor any reason for any to say, “but you promised”, for all will receive exactly what God has promised based on how you live regarding His Word. As Gal. 6:7 says: “for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
