and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from galilee to jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. and we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second psalm, ‘you are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ [acts 13:31-33]
God always keeps his promises. for centuries his chosen people had been longing for a Messiah. someone to save them from darkness, destruction, from their enemies, from oppression and persecution. they were promised a savior, and they were waiting on the edge of their seats.
the Lord God said to the serpent, “because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. i will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” [genesis 3:14-16]
God’s promise way back in the garden to rescue his children. he would raise up one to crush the head of the serpent. many repeated this promise all throughout the history of the children of israel. the promise was given through abraham and the patriarchs, through moses, through king david, in this psalm and others, through many other prophets, through john the baptist, and through Jesus himself as he walked the earth. so many years of waiting, and now the promise had been fulfilled through Jesus. in his perfect life, in his atoning death, and in his essential resurrection, all that he did was sufficient for this promise to be fulfilled, for God’s good plan to be accomplished. victory in Jesus!
what promise of God do you long to see fulfilled? for what good plan are you clinging to the blood of Christ? there are many. and every single one will find their yes and amen in Jesus Christ. he is the Conqueror. he is the King. he will surely do it!
for all the promises of God find their ‘yes’ in him. that is why it is through him that we utter our amen to God for his glory. [2 Corinthians 1:20]
just look at all Jesus will accomplish!
then i saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. and i saw the holy city, new jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. and i heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
and he who was seated on the throne said, “behold, i am making all things new.” also he said, “write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” and he said to me, “it is done! i am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. to the thirsty i will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. the one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. but as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” [revelation 21:1-8]
today, in the presence of a conquering King, thank him for his promises. praise him for being trustworthy and true. thank him for his perfect timing and his perfect plan. tell him your longing to see all of his promises fulfilled, and praise him for his almighty, unchanging glory displayed in all that he does.
~ arwen eastman