Promises are something that happens all the time. Millions of promises are made every day for one reason or another. The word promise is defined as “a declaration assuring that one will or will not do something.”
Even when a promise is made by someone whom one depends on, many times there is a nagging doubt about the promise being fulfilled. It is because of the human factor.
God keeps all of his promises. He made a promise to Abraham that he would make a great nation of Abraham and through him all families of the earth would be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3). God also promised him a land for his descendants (Gen. 15:18-21). During the reign of Solomon, one can read that he reigned over all the land God had promised Abraham (1 Kings 4:21). It took many years for it to be fulfilled, but God fulfilled his promise.
The spiritual promise of all families being blessed through Abraham came in the form of Jesus being born in this world, living among men, dying on the cross and being raised up on the third day (Gal. 3:6-29). By obedience to the gospel of Christ, all men can be saved – that is a promise from God and God cannot lie. This promise is the one all men need to pay attention to God’s promise.
Some misunderstand God’s promise of eternal life.They have fallen into the trap of thinking that they can do what they want in the name of religion and it will be acceptable to God. God has never allowed man to dictate what to do to obey him. Even when Christ walked among men this false belief was held by many.
Jesus said, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matt.7:21-23).
Those who had left following God’s instruction had to realize their need to come back to God. In fact, the message of John the Baptist and Jesus himself was repent for the kingdom is at hand (Matt. 3:2, 4:17).
Knowing God keeps his promises, one must follow God’s word and obey it. For as sure as his promise of eternal life is true, so is his promise of eternal damnation to those who fail to follow him.
Study God’s word to produce faith (Rom. 10:17), turn from sin (Luke 13:3), be willing to confess Jesus as the Son of God before men (Matt. 10:32, 33), be baptized for the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38) and then live faithfully for God each day of your life and heaven can be your eternal home. God keeps his promises.