“[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith…He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body…No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, Fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised. That is why his faith was credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God).” – Romans 4:18,19,20,21 & 22 (AMPC)
Faith as simple trust in the promise of God, is what Apostle Paul is impressing on us in Romans 4:18-22. When a comprehensive understanding of faith is needed, Abraham, the progenitor of faith, is our best bet. As an individual, he is the ultimate example of someone awaiting the fulfillment of God’s promise. God wants every one of us to come to the maturity of faith where you, like Abraham, can confidently say, “we will go…we will worship…we will come back” even while knowing that the worship involves an unthinkable sacrifice (see Genesis 22:25).
Sometimes you have to give up the very thing you so deeply love, in faith that God would keep His promise concerning the said thing. Therefore, you must be obedient in faith, for the proof of the genuineness of your faith lies in obedience. James 2:14-26, lays this open for you, and Hebrews 11:8 is a reminder of Abraham’s obedience in faith, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he…obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
Most times you have to wait for what you may consider a very long time before you see the fulfillment of God’s promise. Such waiting requires patience. In this regard, Hebrews 6:11-12 takes note of the essential patience of faith, but have a look at 2 Peter 3:9.
Peter gives us a different perspective of that required patience. He tells us that God is also patiently waiting. Quick to believe that it is God who is slow in keeping His promise, never for one minute does it ever cross your mind that God is being patient for your sake. He patiently waits…while you’re learning to walk in faith, for you to finally rest wholly and absolutely on His word of promise, for you to turn back to Him after you’ve grown tired of waiting, for the constant ebb and flow of your wavering belief to settle down, for you to realize that you’ve not been given a spirit of fear…the list continues on and on.
Beloved, it is not in vain that you trust God for the fulfillment of His promise to you. Be confident that when God makes a promise He is “able and mighty to keep His word”. God is so faithful, and full of love for you, that even if you become weary of waiting and expedite your own solution – which by the way, will fail – God will pick up the pieces of your shattered life, gently put you back on the path, and re-affirm His promise with you in such an incredible way that your double-mindedness is completely annihilated.
Here is the absolute truth:
God is a covenant God, so when He gives a promise He will not divert from His chosen course.
God neither lies nor changes His mind.
God will never speak and then not act.
God will not make a promise and not fulfill it.
Nothing and no-one can thwart God’s plan.
Amen†
Awaiting the Fulfillment of God’s Promise Shelley Johnson 15-Sep-16
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