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Thomas Fuller said, "A man apt to promise is apt to forget." Whether this forgetting is factual or feigned,
Fuller's observation too often proves to be true. Mankind often fails to follow through with his vows.
Marriages, businesses, and even entire nations have crumbled because of forgotten — or neglected —
promises. Thanks be to God, though, that the Savior we serve does not possess this disappointing trait.
Consider the words of Second Peter 3:8-9: "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day
is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his
promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish,
but that all should come to repentance."
Concerning the context of Peter's comments, the inspired penman is answering the charge of scoffers who accuse the Lord of lying. In derision, these mockers ask, "Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Pet. 3:4). The apostle goes on to show the ignorance of their position, and then assures his readers that the Lord's delay in coming again is marked by compassion, not unfaithfulness. He also says that unlike the tendency of men to forget their promises due to the passing of time, time means little to the Lord. That is, it doesn't matter if God made the promise yesterday or a thousand years ago; He will always honor His word! Especially in light of the numerous neglected promises of men, it is indeed encouraging that we can count on God. This fact moved the psalmist to declare, "Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds" (Ps. 36:5). No wonder Moses described the Father as "the faithful God" (Deut. 7:9), and no wonder Paul penned that "the Lord is faithful" (2 Thess. 3:3). With these matters in mind, all would do well to remember that God has promised to reward every man according to his deeds — whether those actions are good or bad (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10). Since God is faithful to His promises, it is eternally critical that men be faithful to God! So, how are you faring? |