Covenant is a word I definitely understand. However, its biblical significance is so dynamic that for most of us, it’s a stretch to grasp the concept of God establishing a “covenant with His people” and realizing that means you.
When all is said and done, this covenant thing is an agreement, a promise between us and God. If you’ve lived at all, then you’ve had people make promises to you that 1) they had no intention of keeping, 2) they failed miserably while trying to keep them, or 3) they didn’t care whether they kept a promise to you or not. You may have even been more of a promise breaker than a promise keeper. For now, let’s keep the focus on God here.
I’ve got to believe that if anybody is going to keep His Word, it’s God. Therefore this covenant, the one God made to Abraham, the one which Jesus came to fulfill, is the one we should take to our graves. Because this apparently is a good example of how important it is to keep one’s promises, I submit to you that we should all be extremely careful about making them.
It seems that the basis of spiritual belief is rooted in a simple promise. To Noah, “Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you green plants, I now give you everything.” Exodus 19:5.
From Jesus to the disciples, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood…for whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” 1 Corinthians 11:25-26. Remember this is God talking about His promise to us. Have you made any promises to Him lately, to yourself about Him, to anybody you love or to someone who loves you? Have you kept them?
Many of us have heard and said the phrase, “Speak it into existence” and “Be careful what you ask for.” Because of its biblical roots, this covenant thing is a powerful truth to wrap your brain around. A promise is Godly. It has to be. The first promise was made to Adam and Eve. Everything somehow gets caught up in words and the understanding of words; God’s Word, our words. They have incredible power, if only we could understand them in the context of covenant. They are our vehicles for communicating with the original covenant maker. I am therefore accountable to a higher power for everything I say. And guess what? So are you. “So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth…” Isaiah 55:11. If god can be counted on to keep His Word and I am made in His image, then honesty is the stuff my promises are made of. Remember that when you make your next promise.
May God bless and keep you always.
