“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; for great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV)
We have had many, many people die over the last few years in our tiny community. So many people in fact, that it has become rather disconcerting as we look around and silently and sometimes not so silently wonder who will be next.
And as I too have wondered, I also find myself sometimes wondering about other things. I wonder and hope that indeed what the Scriptures tell us is true in regards to eternal life in Heaven with God and Christ who has said that He has gone ahead to prepare a place for us. I read about the river of the water of life and the city whose wall is made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. Whose foundations of the city walls are decorated with every kind of precious stone: jasper, sapphire, chalcedony, emerald, sardonyx, carnelian, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, chrysoprase, jacinth and amethyst. Whose gates are twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. Whose streets are made of pure gold, like transparent glass. A city where God will dwell with us and we with Him and He shall wipe every tear from our eyes. A place where there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things will have passed away. (See Revelations 21:3-4; 18-21; 22:1)
And as I read these things it is beyond my comprehension to understand, to even imagine, and to take it all in. It sounds like a fairytale too good to be true. And that little niggling of doubt wants to creep in and consume me telling me it is only a pipe dream. But then I think about the tried, tested and true promises of God. The ones that have proven themselves to me over and over again throughout my lifetime.
The promise that God shall supply all my need, and He has (See Phil. 4:19). The promise that His Spirit will teach and guide and direct me, and He has (See John 16:13-15). The promise that the guilt of my sin is forgiven through Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour, and my peace within, tells me that they are forgiven (See 1 John 1:9). The promise that in all things He works for the good of those who love Him, and He has (See Rom. 8:28). The promise that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, and I can and have (See Phil. 4:13). As well as the many others, too numerous to list here.
Tried, tested and true promises that pave the way of faith and belief concerning what is yet to come, even though it seems too great and wondrous to believe. Tried, tested and true promises that He has proved are reliable and never failing, over and over again to me in the here and now. Tried, tested and true promises that assure me and all those who believe and trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, the One whom we await during this Advent Season, that when death comes a knocking, or He returns again for His own, that we will have nothing to fear regarding the future. For indeed, great is His tried, test and true faithfulness.
Prayer: Lord God thank You for Your faithfulness through the truth of Your promises. Promises that we can rely upon. Promises that pave the way for our faith to stand strong and firm. Fulfilled promises that have the power to banish all doubt and fear from our minds concerning those things yet unseen, for which we are truly thankful. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen
Lynne Phipps
Atlin, British Columbia, Canada
