God's Unbreakable Covenant

“My Covenant of Blessing and Peace will never be broken, says the Lord Who has Mercy on you. O storm battered city, troubled and desolate I will rebuild you with precious jewels and make your foundations from lapis lazuli” (Isaiah 54:10)

Welcome back dear student, the Living God our Creator is the God of Covenant. This means He is Faithful to the promises in His Word, and to His plans of Mercy, Redemption, and Restoration tied up in the free gift of Salvation through His Son Jesus, the Christ.

I’ve been thinking about a line that Chris Brown sings in the beautiful worship song “Trust In God”, which says ‘perfect submission, all is at rest, I know the Author of tomorrow has ordered my steps’. The concept was taken from the famous hymn ‘Blessed Assurance’ written by Fanny Crosby in 1873.

'All is at rest'. When people pass away we read on their epitaph ‘At Rest’. It means the struggle is over. It is a comfort for those left behind.

But death is not the end.

This is why it is so vital to know our final outcome, so that we can have Peace, and true rest.

When we close our eyes on this earth what will our final destination be?

Some people hope their good works have earned them enough brownie points with God to just make it in the gates. This theology is not Biblical.

‘There is only One Mediator between God and man, that is, the Man Christ Jesus’ (1 Timothy 2:5). Christ means Messiah or Anointed One, the Saviour. 'All of us have sinned and fall short of God’s Glory’ (Romans 3:23). We all need a Saviour, as we could never pay for our sins, no matter how nice or good we try to be. So, God sent His Son Jesus to save us by paying for our sins with His sinless Blood, thus opening up the way back to God the Father (John 3:16). "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners" (Romans 5:6).

When we didn't even know God, while caught in the mess of sin - all the while God knew me and you, and Jesus paid with His Life - for what we could never pay for: Redemption, Forgiveness, Reconciliation.

Jesus said, “I Am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6).

Because of the precious Blood of Jesus, we are forgiven, our sins paid in full. Therefore, we have access to our Holy God, welcomed and adopted into His family as beloved sons and daughters through His Covenant of Mercy. You may not have had a good start in life friend, but Your Heavenly Father loves and cares for you with unfailing Love (see Romans chapter 8).

The Hebrew word Abba means Daddy, and like any little child we can enjoy the warm security of God’s Presence as we grow to know Him through the New Covenant written in the Blood of His Son the Lord Jesus. Covenant is a legally binding, unbreakable agreement. People may go back on their word, but God never will.

In troubled times folks may feel forgotten and alone.

But the Lord never forsakes us.

He is close, waiting for us to run to Him and accept His Love.

There are conditions to walking out Redemption. Repenting of and turning from sin, acknowledging that Salvation is through the Lord Jesus alone, and then living for God in obedience to His Word (see Hebrews chapter 12). This means the old life and ways get left behind. In order to see change we must change! This involves renouncing strife, offence, bitterness, fear, habitual sin and toxic anger - as these separate us from God’s Presence, grieving His Spirit, for God is Love.

"And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is Love; whoever abides in Love abides in God, and God in him. In this way, Love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him. There is no fear in Love, but perfect Love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in Love" (1 John 4:18).

We must not accept abuse from others, but we must release forgiveness from our hearts to maintain our relationship with God - leaving our enemies to Him. God will rebuild us. His promises bring Restoration, Hope and Joy, even in the midst of difficult circumstances, for He is Faithful!