Promise

Fortresses were not built in the middle of the plains. Rather, they were built in high places, on top of or into the side of a mountain. So, with that background, check out today’s passage.

What does your relationship with God depend on? Things that you do? Things that you don’t do? Can you lose your relationship with God? Can you have a relationship with God and then do something that causes God to kick you out of his family?

All these stories have names. And we all could add to the list of tragedies we see around us. The question is: How does God work all these things out for good? Does he…can he work all these things out for good?

Think about it! Disease that wracks the body—healed! Broken hearts from broken relationships—over! Wayward children—home! Stricken with grief—comforted! Addictions—overcome! Years of separation—united! Disappointment—elation!

Can you imagine what would be going through your mind if you knew those persecuting the church would soon arrive in your city? No doubt your heart and mind would be filled with anxiety. You would be fearful for yourself, but even more so for your spouse and children. So, Peter wrote two letters to help those facing difficult times to focus their minds on wholesome (pure, unsullied, and sincere) thoughts.

As I write this, God has placed me in a challenging and stretching time. I have done a good bit of reflecting on “his precious and very great promises.” In fact, I have written several of God’s promises on 3 x 5 cards to review them often. There is no middle ground to a promise.

The apostle Peter walked with Jesus, and he had stories to tell. Stories about Jesus healing the sick (his mother-in-law, for one), calming the sea, walking on water, feeding the five thousand, and raising the dead. He could tell you how he stood at a distance and watched Jesus die, then saw them take his body down and place it in a tomb. He could also tell you that three days later, he found the tomb empty and Jesus alive! His readers had not seen Jesus, but he had. One of the reasons he wrote this book was to hand off the faith to the next generation.

A great teacher uses different methods to drive home the point. That’s what God did in the Old Testament. He communicated his message in a variety of ways. Sometimes he used visions, dreams, and supernatural interventions. Other times he wrote the law on tablets of stone and delivered it to the people by his servant Moses. Then there were occasions when God spoke through the prophets by sending warnings and encouragement.

The prophet Isaiah did not hold back on God’s words of judgment. However, his message included the promise of impending peace. Someone was coming who would change the course of history. Twenty-two times, Isaiah promised that a Deliverer was on the way.