Hunter Christner

How can I know that God is faithful? Faithfulness is an attribute of God, a fact about his character. One of the things about God that has impacted me the most is that he has consistently kept his promises, and not just to some people but to all people. Faithfulness is following through when you say you are going to do something or showing up when you say you are going to be somewhere. Faithfulness has to do with integrity and trustworthiness.

“Know that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments,” Deuteronomy 7:9.

Life has a way of making us question just about everything. It can be a struggle to believe that God is faithful when things don't happen as we expect or would like. Doubts and fears start to creep in and we begin to question what we once thought or what we have heard. The effect is often a time of uncertainty. Have you found yourself there before? Maybe you are there right now.

“Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out,” 1 Corinthians 10:13.

God keeps his promises. The most important promise he has kept is his promise to you of salvation through the life, death and resurrection of his son Jesus. He made this promise many times throughout the Bible. The origin of this promise is his response to the first sin. You may be saying to yourself, “Why did it take so long?” Well, Peter, one of Jesus' closest friends, wrote this: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance … Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation …” 2 Peter 3:9 -15.

God’s faithfulness to fulfill his promise is not dependent on us, but we do have a part in whether or not we choose to respond to his invitation. God’s promise of salvation is for you and you can receive it when you believe it by faith in Jesus Christ, the one who died to take the punishment for your sin so that you can be saved. God is faithful and you can know it.

Check out this song: “Yes and Amen” by Housefires.

(Hunter Christner is associate staff at Campus Ventures in Powell.)