Have you ever forgotten to do something that you had promised that you would do? Probably all of us can acknowledge that we, despite our best intentions, have forgotten to do something that we had previously said we would do. We may have said that we would do something like take out the trash and put it into the dumpster, but maybe we got sidetracked with something else and it just never got done. Maybe we were supposed to be at a certain location at a specific time, but it just completely slipped our mind.
But I guess, in a way this should be expected because that is the human nature, to make mistakes. Not that we want to, of course, but we are fallible beings. We fail, we make mistakes, we sin. We forget. But do you know Who does not forget, and will not fail to remember a promise? Our Lord Jesus. Jesus never sinned, not even once. He never made a mistake at any point. And…He will never forget to keep His promises.
Probably the greatest promise that Jesus has left us can be found in John chapter 14.
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Notice the word that Jesus used. Will. “I will come again.” The word “will,” as well as the word “shall,” both indicate the desire to bring about something to pass, i.e. a promise. So when Jesus said that He will come again it indicates His promise that what He has said He would do is going to happen. No if, and, or but, Jesus is going to return to gather His followers to be with Him and the Father in Heaven. Now, when exactly that day will be, no one on Earth knows. As much as we would certainly like to, that knowledge has not been granted to us.
There will be, as the Bible has stated, people who will scoff and ridicule the teachings of the Bible and Christ’s promise, saying “Where is Jesus? Where is this promise?” But this is because they have no faith in the Lord. They look at the events out in the world, the crime, the hate, the sin, and wonder why the Lord hasn’t returned yet, but this is because they lack faith. We as Christians know that the Lord will return because we have His promise, and believe in it.
2 Peter 3:8-14 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Just because Jesus hasn’t come yet doesn’t mean that He isn’t coming, He is giving the opportunity for more people to make the decision to repent. While people may forget or fail to carry out the promises that they make, Jesus will never forget. When He says that He will do something we may have complete confidence that it will happen.
Hebrews 10:35-37 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.
The Bible is a book filled with promises, and because it is a book of truth those promises will come to pass. The return of the Lord is coming, and He will be taking up His followers to be with Him when He returns. That day we don’t know, but know this, it will come. Just continue to have faith, and we will all be caught up to Heaven on that day to be with our Lord.
In Christ
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 