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Never-Failing Promises

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jun 8, 1916

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 93, No. 29.

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Never-Failing Promises

By J. M. Hopkins

J. M. HOPKINS
‘BELIEVE in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.’ 2 Chron. 20:20. Every one who carefully studies the prophecies of the Bible, and reads from the book of nature and from secular and sacred history how faithful the Lord has always been to fulfil his word, must be deeply impressed with the fact that not one prophecy ever passed the time of its fulfilment. The Lord is always faithful to keep his word.
It is impossible in so brief an article as this to enumerate the many instances in the great lines of prophecy where fulfilment has already taken place in a very striking manner. It would be a source of wonderful inspiration, confidence, and encouragement prayerfully to investigate the prophecies with this special object in view.
In Heb. 6:16-18, the Lord has spoken very strongly concerning his faithfulness: “For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to show unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: that by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.”
God himself is absolute truth. He cannot deny himself. He cannot deny his word. The psalmist declares, “For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” And yet, to make it more sure, the Lord “confirmed it by an oath,” that “we might have a strong consolation.”
We are nearing the time when our only refuge, our only trust, our only resource, will be the God of the Bible, the God of prophecy; and even now there is no safety or security for us, apart from our Lord. Then why not, in consideration of the multiplied evidences of his unfailing word, fully surrender all to him, and fully believe every word and every promise he has given concerning our temporal and spiritual need? The Bible and church history furnish many striking examples of trust and supply. “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” “Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.”
Do you not think that the dear Master would be much pleased if his children would put away sinful, discouraging doubts, and in simple, trusting faith draw nigh to him and rest confidently in his word? Have you idols? Are you cherishing aught that is unlike God? If you are, make an unconditional surrender of all to him just now. Know that your kind heavenly Father asks you to put away only those things that are an injury to you. He invites you to accept all that will be a blessing to you. Will you not do so? Simply believe in the Lord, and then obey, and rejoice in the fulness of his constancy and faithfulness and blessing. He tenderly invites you to do this, and to live in sweet peace and blessedness.
Roseburg, Oregon.