Scripture, in places too numerous to count, conveys to us the surety of the word and promise of God.  In the prologue of John we are told the incredible truth that the Word of God is even God Himself. 

 

    The Fathers and Prophets gave the people of God hope in the surety of the promises as they saw them fulfilled in their own lives. Pointing back so often to their rescue from Egypt and the miracles God had done in their midst, they were encouraged to rest knowing that when God gives His word, it will be done. 

 

    When the apostles refer to Christ as the Word of God they are doing so much more than we often realize (and more than one commentator could expound in a single article), but I would focus our attention here on this aspect of the people of God in the promises of God. Our foundation as the people of God (Israel), is found alone in the promises of God. Paul shows us in his comparison of Isaac and Ishmael that it was not the flesh that mattered, nor the order that mattered, nor anything about the boys themselves that mattered but the promise of God delivered to Abraham and Sarah. 

 

    Consider with me for a moment the implications at play here. Are you from a wealthy family? A Christian family? A famous or well known name? It matters not to God. Are you from no one in particular, or you do not know yourself, or even a family that hates and abhors the Lord of Hosts? It matters not to God. Young, old, rich, poor, well, and infirmed are all equal before the Throne of the Almighty. The question before us is a simple one and yet we so often overlook it. It matters not who you ARE, what matters is the Word and Promise of God. 

    The promises of God are sure. I encourage the reader to explore the contexts of Joshua and Jeremiah that birthed the above statements. How God walked with the Israelites out of Egypt and fulfilled every promise all of their days, and how God appointed and walked with Jeremiah in all His words to Israel about her coming destruction. But even more so, I encourage the reader to think on our quotation from John. Theon en ho Logos, God was the Word. From the Greek we see that this Word is (as to his very nature) God. The Word of God, speaking light itself into existence, calling men out of nations and away from homes to follow Him, raising the dead out of their very graves, is no idle Word. It is He, God Himself, active and moving throughout creation and down even into the smallest corners. In this Word we have all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, who walked amongst us in our own likeness and shared in our humanity.

 

    So when we look at ourselves, specifically at our assurance, what then can we say? We say trust not in "I prayed a prayer", or "I am a good man", or even "my father or mother is a Christian and I was raised a Christian". Trust alone in the promise of God. Has the gospel been sown in your heart? Have you seen the sinfulness of your sin and cast yourself upon the only perfect One to rescue you from the wrath to come? Does the Word of God abide in you? Then the promise of God abides upon you, and all of His promises are as sure as He is.