Week 4: Covenant

• Key verses: Genesis 15:6; Romans 4
• God is faithful in spite of us
• Faith and hope, two sides of a coin
• Parting thoughts

Key verses

Genesis 15:6 (NLT)

And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.

Romans 4:18-19 (NLT)

Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.

God is faithful in spite of us

God makes promises and keeps them. Period. He has done so since creation. His covenant with many people in the Old Testament proves this. It is on this foundation by demonstration that we too believe.

Here is a table of some of God’s covenants from the book (page 27).

What strikes me about this list is that God made commitments even though he knew they were not perfect. Each person on this list has issues including you and me. Abraham tried to fulfill God’s promise on his own. David and Noah had kid issues. You and I are no different with our own sins. Despite all this, God keeps his promises.

I am thankful that God’s covenant with me is built on faith, not works. In every case, God promises, we believe, we act on this belief, and God counts us as worthy to be with him. While we can do nothing to fulfill his promises, we are expected to act on them to demonstrate our faith.

Faith and hope, two sides of a coin

“Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing…” Reading those words hit home this week. I have ALS which comes with a short lifespan and last days of total dependence on others to live. In every sense of the word, there is no reason to hope.

When we knew that I likely had ALS, Sheila and I cried. I had plans of traveling with my wife, growing my career, and enjoying life as empty nesters. ALS changed all that. We had no reason for hope. We took a long trip to Florida to spend time with each other and to pray and plan for what was next. God made it clear he had a plan for us. My new mantra is “God has a plan for us. I don’t know what it is but I will trust him anyway.” God reinforced this with us in Jeremiah 29:11.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

For good, not for disaster. Wow!

I believe that promise from God. I wasn’t sure I had faith to be hopeful. Some days it waivers, but God continues to show himself faithful to us just like he did with Abraham. I trust God’s promise today and for the future. I can look back and see his faithfulness along the way and that reinforces my hope for the future.

I’m not dead yet, so God isn’t finished with me!

Parting thoughts

Faith is the reason we are saved through God’s grace not because of anything we have done or can do. However, if we don’t live out our faith, it is just lip service. When you back on your life, do you see how you were faithful to God? How faithful he was to you? Do you have hope for the future? I do.

This year our church is using the book Core 52 as a personal study to help us strengthen our knowledge of the Bible and grow our faith together. As part of my faith journey, I will be writing my thoughts and insights here.