The Sacredness of a Promise

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Nov 17, 1910

The Sacredness of a Promise

THERE are persons who make promises right and left without consideration, and break them without compunction; they promise anything, and perform nothing. It is not needful to say much about the character of such men, for they are soon known and read; they are persons whose word is worthless, and whose character is as worthless as their word.

If a man is to be worth anything, we must be able to rely upon his word; and the men who keep their word are the men of moral strength in this world, and the men who will abide in eternal strength in the world to come.

We honor the man who keeps his word; for he partakes somewhat of the character of the God of truth and righteousness. What comfort there is in the assurance that it is “impossible for God to lie.” His word is immutable, his oath is unchangeable, and “by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie,” he gives strong consolation to those who have “fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope” set before them. God will not disappoint his people. His covenant he will never break; for he has magnified his word above all his name. The grass may wither, and the flower fade, “but the word of our God shall stand forever;” and though heaven and earth pass away, that word shall never pass away.

As we draw nigh to God, and become partakers of his character, we turn from falsehood and deceit, and walk in the truth. And let those who believe and trust in the God who keeps his word, seek to walk worthy of God, hating falsehood, loving truth, and being steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.—The Christian.