February 21: Our God Keeps His Promise
Read: Genesis 9:8-17; 1 Peter 3:18-22
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 “Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”
When we’ve experienced something traumatic, it’s hard not to worry that it will happen again. A person who has a serious illness might fear it will recur. A person who experiences an assault may find it difficult to walk by themselves or to trust other people. A person who is in a car accident may find driving to be a challenge. We, naturally, don’t want to experience the same thing again.
Unfortunately, with most traumas, we can’t guarantee they’ll never happen again. We might get sick again. We might be assaulted again. We might have another accident.
Despite the many traumas we have or might experience in this life, there is one we can know with certainty we will never go through: God’s judgment. To be sure, we know that each of us will die and face judgment (Hebrews 9:27). But, it is possible for us to know with certainty that though we die, we will escape God’s judgment.
Romans 8:1 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” God is faithful. He keeps his promises. For those who trust in Jesus, there is no condemnation. There is forgiveness; there is deliverance.
God keeps his promises. He told Noah that the rainbow was a sign of his covenant, his promise to never again destroy the earth by a flood.
Steven Cole wrote, “Just as there is nothing quite as beautiful and breathtaking as a rainbow, so there is nothing as glorious and beautiful as the many splendored grace of God (1 Pet. 4:10). Just as a rainbow allows us to see the various facets of pure, white light, so God’s grace enables us to see Him who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see (1 Tim. 6:16). Even if man forgets the meaning of the rainbow, God says that He will look at it and remember His covenant (Gen. 9:16).”
God destroyed the earth with a flood in the days of Noah. The only ones saved were those who joined Noah in the ark he had built. The day is coming when God will destroy the earth with fire. In that day, only those in Christ will be saved (2 Peter 3:4-10).
Seven times in Genesis 9:8-17, God uses the word “covenant”. He repeats it over and over to emphasize the promise he is making. Noah can be confident, and us too, that God keeps his promises. God promised not to send a flood again to destroy the earth and he will give eternal life to all those who believe in his son.
Jesus said in John 10:27-30, 27 “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
During the season of Lent, as we consider ways our hearts and lives have wandered from God; as we seek to realign ourselves with his plans and purposes; we can be assured that if we have trusted in Christ, God’s grace and mercy has taken the sting of death and judgment away. We are no longer condemned. We are saved by grace!
Questions for Reflection
Do you have doubts or questions about whether you are truly saved? Ask God to show you the root of those? Have you trusted in Christ and his work? Are you still trusting in yourself?
Is there ever a legitimate time to doubt your salvation? If so, when?
If you were talking to someone who was struggling with doubts, what verses would you use to help him or her?
Readings for this week:
February 22: Job 4:1-21; Ephesians 2:1-10
February 23: Job 5:8-27; 1 Peter 3:8-18a
February 24: Proverbs 30:1-9; Matthew 4:1-11
February 25: Genesis 15:1-6, 12-18; Romans 3:21-31
February 26: Genesis 16:1-6; Romans 4:1-12
February 27: Genesis 16:7-15; Mark 8:27-30
February 28: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Mark 8:31-38