Prediction
or Promise
(1-9-04)
2Pet.3:3-13
What is the difference between a prediction and a promise?
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God may speak of something
in the future but never does he make predictions. (That I know of.) It even seems foolish to think about anyone human or spiritual
who would challenge God with a wager based on the outcome of some event in the future.
Consider Job as the focus of the wager (?) between God and
Satan. Satan says – I bet I can get job to curse you. And God says – your on. Ok I am stretching the story lines
a little, very little. I just think it is really dumb for anyone to think they could win a bet against the Almighty.
God didn’t make predictions, He made promises.
When God spoke to
Noah He did not say – ‘hey Noah, the sky looks different today, I bet its going to rain.’ We know from scripture
that before the flood of 1591 AC (the 17th day of the 2nd month) it had not rained. (Ever!) God told
Noah it was going to rain and that the springs of the earth were going to open up and the earth would be deluged. (flooded)
Not a prediction, a promise!
When God told Eve
after she had caused her husband to sin – "I will greatly increase your pains
in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
And He did! At that same time God told Satan, the serpent – “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel." (Gen.3:15-16)
Guess what? He Did!
God does not make predictions, He makes promises, and His promises are sure. The writer of Hebrews says this of God making
promises – "I will surely…”
Because God has no one greater to swear by He swears by himself. (Heb.6:13ff)
So how sure are God’s
promises? Absolute! Who could cause His promises to fail? ___ _____ or ___ _____
We are the beneficiaries of His promises in that He promised to bless the future peoples and He has made those blessings available.
(Paul in speaking of the nature of the promise wants to make it clear that there is a difference between the curse and the
gift. Rom.5:12-19) The Hebrew writer gives sound advice concerning receiving the promise - “We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience
inherit what has been promised.”
Can God’s promises be trusted? _______!
God understands our struggle to believe and because of that spoke as He did. Look again at Heb.6:13-18 (19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.)
Our security is that God has spoken with the seal of an oath – He will do as He says.
The 1st
promise worthy of belief – “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must
believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb.11:6)
The journey into an exciting future begins there!
The journey heaven ward begins by believing that God is and that he rewards, which means that one must also believe
that He is not only willing, but able to do all that He says. Jesus wants you for the Fathers’ Kingdom and …
