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Themes God's Faithfulness A PROMISE IS A PROMISE ISN't IT? Theresa climbed into the van, slammed the door and slumped down in the seat. "It's not fair. It's just not fair." She pulled a Kleenex from her coat pocket and blew her nose. On her lap was a crumpled piece of paper. Mr. Smithers looked at his daughter. "What happened now?" he wondered. Theresa blew her nose again, crossed her arms and stared straight ahead. "Anything you want to tell me?" asked Theresa's father. He reached for the ignition and started the van. "Yeah." Theresa struggled to keep her voice steady. "A promise is a promise isn't it? A person can't go back on a promise can they? I mean, if someone promises you something, they can't change their mind can they?" Mr. Smithers turned off the engine. "What happened?" He asked. "Dad, remember the play that I've been talking about?" "The one for the school assembly?" "Yes. Marianne, our student teacher, promised me the lead part. Remember? Well, the whole casting was changed today and my part was given to someone else. Marianne promised it to me. It's not fair. Now, all I get is the part of the maid with just a few lines to say. It's not fair!" Mr. Smithers shook his head sadly and took the crumpled paper from her hand. "Theresa, sometimes we can't keep our promises. I don't know why Marianne made the changes, but I'm sure she had a good reason. Maybe she had to do what the director said." Theresa started to cry. What dad was saying was true. Still, she was very disappointed. Mr. Smithers continued. "I am really sorry this happened." "Dad, let's just go home," Theresa said. The next few minutes were quiet as they drove home. "Dad, have you ever broken a promise?" Theresa finally spoke up. "I'm afraid I have." Mr. Smithers confessed. "Dad," Theresa continued, "will God ever change His mind and break a promise?" He stopped the van at a red light. Mr. Smithers turned to his daughter. "No. He is completely dependable." "How do you know?" Theresa questioned. A smile broke across Mr. Smithers' face. He was glad that Theresa was thinking about God. "For one thing," he started, "God will never change His mind. He won't get sick. He won't move away. He won't die. He won't forget. You can believe all His promises." "Why can God always keep His promises and we can't?" Theresa looked at her dad. "Because He is God and God cannot lie. Also, He is the Creator and He has power to make His promises come true." "And He loves me doesn't He dad?" Theresa was smiling now. "He loves you so much that He sent His Son to the cross at Calvary. Doesn't the Bible say, 'This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners?'" (1 Timothy 1:15). Calvary was one of God's promises. God kept that promise. He promises today, that "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:36). You can always depend on God to keep His Word!
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Simon Wallace
