Many beloved things in this life wear out.
Favorite shirts wear thin and tear.
Comfortable shoes fall apart.
Financial accounts become depleted.
Warm friendships can drift over time.
Even our bodies wear down, break down, at last lie down in death.
But there is one thing that never wears out—the promises of God.
Dear friend, you can use one of God’s promises, but you cannot use it up.
You can grab a promise and cling to it wherever you go. You can hold it close through the storm, but when you arrive safely at your destination, you will find it has not dulled one bit. In fact, it likely shines brighter than when you first clung to it.
Neither do God’s promises rust or fade. They are like the fine wine of heaven; stored up for those moments we most need their refreshment. Yet, when we pop their cork and drink them down, we find a miracle. Like the widow whose flour remained full, the bottle never runs dry (1 Kings 17:7-16). Promises harvested from the Lord’s vineyard cannot be depleted.
Nor can His promises be destroyed. An oppressor may steal your Scriptures and burn them before your eyes. But as the smoke rises, the promises remain. They cannot be destroyed because they are stored in the vault of heaven.
God’s promises do not evaporate or dissipate. They grow stronger and more certain with every use. The reason for this is three fold.
First, a promise from God remains because God remains. He cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). He is not a liar who says one thing and does another (Numbers 23:19). He is not the empty cloud that boasts of rain yet only leaves a shadow of disappointment (Proverbs 25:14). A promise is an extension of His very nature and because He does not change, we are not consumed, and neither are His promises (Lamentations 3:22-23).
Secondly, a promise from God can be everlastingly claimed because it was purchased by the blood of Christ. When Jesus died, His blood was the down payment for all of God’s Words to us (2 Corinthians 1:20; Hebrews 9:15). When He rose, He unlocked the vault of assurances for all those who trust in Him. A promise of God cannot wear out because Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25).
Finally, a promise solidifies with each use. Promises are not made only to be kept, they are made to be claimed. They are like food that is not meant for looks, but for consumption. And each time we put it to use, we taste and see that the Lord, who gave His promise, is good (Psalm 34:8). We trust Him more. We love Him more. We find strength we did not know. And therefore, the promise grows surer to us. This builds faith in the promises and in the promise Giver.
Do you have promises that have proven strong for you?
Have you mined the quarry of God’s gold and brought forth treasures no money can buy?
This is the privilege of the child of God. As you walk with Him and you find a bit of treasure, keep it and claim it as your own. Yes, it is for others as well, but all the host of heaven can feast on these promises. They never run dry.
These are a few of my favorite promises. I encourage you to consider them, and to find some others for yourself. Use them. Share them. Hope in them. They will not wear out.
Psalm 34:18 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”
Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Romans 8:32 “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him graciously give us all things?”
Revelation 21:4 “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 22:4 “They will see His face”
Here is a final encouragement from a beloved brother who now sees these promises by sight.
“Our God, in whom we trust, is not fickle; He is not thoughtful of us today and forgetful of us tomorrow. If you should live to be as old as Methuselah, the promises of God will never wear out; and if all the troubles that ever fell upon humanity should pounce upon you, God’s strength will be put forth to sustain you, and to bear you to a triumphant close.” – Spurgeon, Sunlight for Cloudy Days
Lord Jesus, keep Your promise, and come for us soon.