“Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses.” (1 Kings 8:56)
“He is faithful in all He does.” (Psalm 33:4)
The
Children of Israel did not choose God, He chose them as His ‘treasured
possession.’ He promised that if they were obedient to Him, He would provide
for them and protect them from all their enemies. “Know therefore that the Lord
your God He is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a
thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands.” (Deuteronomy
7:9)
Unfortunately,
the Children of Israel were wayward and disobedient and thus opened the way to
defeat by their enemies. Each time they sinned they fell prey to their violent
pagan neighbours, for God removed His protective shield. Only when they repented
of their sins and became obedient would He fight for and defend them. That was
their pattern of behaviour in the old covenant.
In
the new covenant however, He promised not to remember our sins anymore because
of the finished work of Jesus, who paid with His blood for our past, present
and future sins. All we need do is confess and repent of them. For “If we claim
to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us
from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8-9)
No
need for any other sacrifice
God
Jehovah, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is the only God who does not
require repeated sacrifices from His children---not after the cross. Therefore
there is no more need for the slaughtering of bulls, sheep, cocks or pigeons to
get His attention or to seek His favour. The cross has given us access to
eternal life, wisdom, righteousness, health, prosperity and holiness---the
tools we need to conquer and dominate in this world. God is satisfied and
appeased by the blood His Son shed on the cross not to be angry with us
anymore.
He
sacrificed His only Begotten Son in order to save humanity from the
consequences of sin which is eternal damnation. He is the only God that makes
the worship of Him optional, not obligatory. No force or pressure is put on any
one. All those who come to Him must come of their own volition, believing He is
able to save them for He is the God All-mighty. He requires true worship ‘in
spirit and in truth.’
His
faithfulness is phenomenal in that it never changes and never fails. He
promises never to leave anyone who comes to Him, nor forsake him or her.
He
is our Provider, our Jehovah-Jireh, (the One who provides for our every need)
Amidst all the challenges of life, He is our El Shaddai (the God who is more
than enough). He offers solace to the weary. Even if we decide to quit on the
way, He promises to be forever faithful; never to give up on us. If you could
find such a God so faithful, He must be our God. He lends a receptive and
sympathetic ear to our cries, is always available around the clock – with no
busy signals or call again. We have open
access. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
God
is true to His word, “.....His faithfulness continues through all generations.”
(Psalm 100:5) The psalmist lived it and declared; “I will proclaim the name of
the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is our Rock, His works are
perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright
and just is He.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)
None
of His words has fallen to the ground. His faithfulness is forever sure. “God
is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His
mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfil?” (Numbers
23:19)
He
is faithful to the point that He is ready to forgive us our sins when we depart
from them, not counting our past sins against us. “He will keep you strong to the
end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God,
who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord is
faithful.” (1 Corinthians 1:8-9) “Your love O Lord reaches to the heavens, your
faithfulness to the skies.” (Psalm 36:5)
“God is faithful to all His promises.” (Psalm
145:13) Trust in His faithfulness.
