Sample Chapter: How Do I React to Your Promises?
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FACE IT. IF it weren’t for God’s promises, who in his or her right mind would be a Christian? If it wasn’t for the promise of eternal life, I would be partying somewhere—and so would you. Absent from the promises of a blessed life today and a better tomorrow, I would suggest that all Christians are complete idiots. And you know what? The apostle Paul, if he were alive today, would agree with me wholeheartedly. “If only for this life we have hope in Christ,” he quipped in 1 Corinthians 15:19, “we are to be pitied more than all men.” But add to the equation the rich, glorious, unfathomable promises available to all of God’s children, and the picture changes instantly. God is the first and ultimate promise keeper, and Scriptures are filled with His promises. As believers, these promises in effect form the blueprint of our very lives. We honor our parents because of the promise attached to that honor. We give our tithes and offerings because we know that God’s generosity and reciprocity far exceed our own. We steer clear of evil because of the stark promises of a life controlled by the flesh. And we get up each morning with the quiet but certain knowledge that when all is said and done, we will receive our reward as joint heirs with Christ. But while most of God’s promises apply equally to each of us, not everyone experiences the best of those promises because we have different reactions to the same promises. So the question of the hour is this: “God, how do I react to Your promises?” Consider the mind-boggling accounts of Mary and Zechariah. In both cases the angel Gabriel appeared to them and promised the same thing: a son. The situations were quite different, of course. Mary was a virgin pledged to marry Joseph, but she was completely chaste and couldn’t possibly be pregnant. When she heard the angel’s words, she did what any sane person would do: she essentially said, “Huh?” Or more eloquently, ‘“How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’” (Luke 1:34). The angel lovingly reassured her and encouraged her with kind words regarding God’s definite favor, putting her at ease. Now let’s back up a few months. This same angel visited Zechariah the priest, who at the time was performing his duties in the temple. Just as it was impossible for Mary to be pregnant, so it was impossible for Zechariah to father a child. He and his wife were too old, and she had never been able to conceive. So when Zechariah heard the promise about his pending fatherhood, he too essentially replied, “Huh?” “Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years’” (Luke 1:18). At this, the angel rebuked him sharply and struck him dumb so he couldn’t speak. Huh? Same angel. Same promise. Same time period. Both Mary and Zechariah had received an angelic promise that was simply impossible, and both had the natural human response, asking how in the world it could be true. But while the angel met Mary’s question with tenderness, he was supremely ticked off at Zechariah’s identical question. The difference lay not in the question itself but in the heart that produced it. Matthew 12:34 says, “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks,” and it is the heart that God ultimately hears, not our choice of words during a difficult moment. Look at Mary again. Here is someone with no formal religious training and nothing to qualify her to become one of the most important individuals in history. Don’t you love how God can use anyone anywhere and work things out perfectly? I am reminded of Nick Vujicik (pronounced vooey-cheech), who was born without limbs yet has ministered to more than two million people around the world. Amazing doesn’t even begin to describe his travels, opportunities, and obstacles. He once said, “If God can use a man with no arms and legs to be His hands and feet, God can use you.” If we had his attitude and enthusiasm we could change the world. But back to Mary. Mary reacted with humility and submission even though she lacked the dimmest notion of how God planned to make good on His promise. Think about it for a moment: there isn’t a soul, living or dead, who could have explained to young Mary what would happen or how. Yet, Mary’s response to this promise was essentially, “You’re God, I’m not. Do whatever pleases You, and I’ll be here if you need me.” On the other hand, Zechariah was imminently qualified to hear from God and receive His promises. As a priest with plenty of years under his belt, he should have been only mildly surprised to receive a visit from the messenger of the One he had served, yet his response was to scorn the promise. Ha! As if God could make a mommy and daddy out of the likes of Elizabeth and me. Get real, Gabriel. Now, the Scriptures do not record that Zechariah slapped his knee and fell to the floor in laughter in response to Gabriel’s message. Scripture doesn’t record the full conversation that took place, but what I described is in effect what happened. ‘You’re God, I’m not. Do whatever pleases You, and I’ll be here if You need me.’” So let’s return to our question: how do we react to God’s promises? Zechariah disbelieved, but Mary accepted. I love what happened in Luke 2 when the shepherds heard the Savior had been born in Bethlehem. At once the heavens erupted in a joyful celebration with a huge angelic choir praising God for the wonderful announcement. The shepherds had not even seen Jesus yet! Jesus had not yet healed anyone or preached any messages or even learned how to walk, yet the angels rejoiced over every promise represented by this newborn babe! The point is that when God makes a promise, the fruit of that promise is already complete from a spiritual and eternal standpoint. We must praise God even before we see the fulfillment of the promise. Even if the promise makes no sense. Even if the promise... well, is flat-out impossible. Mary got her Son. So did Zechariah. How about you? |
