God’s Word tells us,
“Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, He confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf” (Hebrews 6:17-19 ESV).
In the Lord’s journey with Abraham, we see a starting point. The Lord called him out of his idolatrous nation called Ur. And He said to Abraham, “Follow me only.” So Abraham did. And bit by bit, the Lord began to reveal His plan to His servant Abraham. That plan was to usher in the redemption of fallen man through Abraham’s descendents. God was on a mission to restore shalom on this earth where it had been shattered by sin. And He was going to use Abraham’s descendents, one in particular, Jesus Christ, to restore it.
We, like Abraham, must press on, trusting in our God, not having all of the answers.
We can look back, as our brother Abraham did, and we can move forward with confidence in two immutable things: God’s unchanging character and His promises, His oaths that He swore by Himself.
God is faithful.
Stepping out into the unknown,
By myself, but not alone,
Here with you, my God unseen,
In the thrill or in the routine,
Your glory in me will be shown,
Though there’s much I cannot see,
I know your heart, and so I believe.
Ever searching, sometimes finding,
On this hidden path unwinding,
Trusting you will guide my heart,
When my small world falls apart,
And tears my eyes are blinding.
Though there’s much I cannot see,
I know your heart, and so I believe.
Faithful God who cannot lie,
When all that can, goes awry,
My faith finds a resting place,
On your character of grace,
And promises that never die.
Though there’s much I cannot see,
I know your heart, and so I believe.
The Bible doesn’t actually tell us what those “two immutable things” are, Nathanael, and I’ve always considered them to be God’s “written” and “oral” Word. The two you present here, however, work as well and are worth retaining as food for the soul.
I’m curious if you attend Rob Bell’s church? My pastor uses his videos quite often and I really like his ministry……
jim,
Thanks for your comments
No, I do not attend Mars Hill Bible Church. A couple of us from our ministry, The Bridge (http://www.thebridgeministries.com/) went to a conference out there this past winter called, “Isn’t She Beautiful?”
It was awesome.
And I listen to every Rob Bell sermon (at least once).
I am learning a lot through his teaching.