Obtaining God’s Promise

For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.  And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. – Hebrews 6:13-15

When the God of the universe makes a promise to someone to do something, that promise is as sure as anything can be.  It is as sure as God’s unimpeachable character and unstoppable power.  Abraham heard God say “Surely…I will bless you.”  And that word of certainty was not left to stand on its own (although it could have done!).  Because He is gracious and kind, and because He knows how weak our faith can be, the Lord swore an oath; He swore on His own Godhood that what He had promised Abraham He would eventually receive.  And although Abraham did not live to see the land given to his descendants, He did see and enter into “a heavenly country” (Heb. 11:16).

Just think of it; for four thousand years Abraham has been living in Paradise.  And he will never have to leave it!  One thinks of the thief on the cross to whom Jesus said,

“Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” – Luke 23:43

There ahead of us lies our home.  Heaven will come to earth, but if we meet death before that occurs, we will go to be with Christ there.  Paul said of that place that it is “far better” (Phil. 1:23), and so it is.  The word “far” there being an understatement.

Returning to our opening passage, it tells us that after he [Abraham] had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.  We have to do the same.  We have to endure with patience, supported by God’s Spirit and God’s Word, whatever life throws at us.  We have not been left alone.  God’s has made His saints a promise of His presence and help now, and of eternal bliss thereafter.  We too shall obtain it. 

So let us walk with God in these days, knowing what is in store for us in the end.  If the Lord wants to bless us with Heaven later, He will surely us with what we need in this life.