A Promise Made

A promise made to a child shouldn't be broken. Actually no promise should be, but a child will believe you and not keeping it is what brings skepticism into a life. No doubt we have all had the experience of broken promises in our young lives that is some way affects us now, you learn not to believe. It happens, and it is a sad state of affairs when we apply it to what God has promised. We may not always keep promises, our parents may have let us down, but God will not.

If you were the victim of a broken promise, try to remember the way in which you received, believed, and looked forward to the fulfillment of that promise. That's what Jesus was indicating, I believe, when he said we should receive the kingdom as a child. Not that we should act as children, but we should believe the promises that Yahweh has made, because He will not let us down. It is a matter of integrity for Him to keep His word. Trust that what He has said will come to pass, no matter how bad things look, or how impossible His truth may be. Here are some thoughts from Pastor Steve Taylor about "childlike" faith that I found refreshing. I hope you do as well.

Never underestimate the power of simple faith. A childless old man is asked to believe in descendants too numerous to count.

"And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness." (Genesis 15:5-6)

In a way that only God could, He took Abram outside at night and used the limitless night sky to emphasis His point and promise. Literally, a starry-eyed Abram simply "believed in YAHWEH", and his simple faith was credited to him as pleasing to the Lord. Child-like, simple faith was the prized quality that appropriated the promise.

This passage is vivid in my mind. I picture Abraham standing beside God, like a young child standing next to his parent, looking up at the night sky in wonderment. In child-like innocence he simply accepts the outrageous promise that God makes because of His absolute trust In his Father.

Innocent, child-like faith is more difficult the older we get. The experiences of life can easily fill us with skepticism, pessimism, and callousness. Age and experience have a way of removing child-like innocence and simplicity.

Perhaps Abram's faith was so highly prized because it is so rare in adults. The complexities and realities of adult life had not tainted his innocent inner child, as so characteristically happens to most people.

The loss of innocent, child-like faith is to our own peril: "whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all" (Luke 18:17). Accepting that we will be privileged to rule the world together with Jesus at His return is about as outrageous as a childless old man believing that his descendants would be as numerous as the night stars. And yet we, like Abram, are asked to accept this outrageous promise in simple, child-like faith. In a way different than is commonly meant today, listen to your inner child.

Me again. Put away that skepticism, pessimism, and callousness by replacing it with trust. Don't listen to the "adult" arguments, but as Steve wrote, listen to that believing child. It's wonderful, peaceful, and easy to accept.

Blessing be on you
Chuck Jones

 

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