James Smith, 1860
 

"God is faithful" 1 Corinthians 1:9

As a minister of Christ was going to preach one cold day, he overtook one of his hearers, who greeted him with, "A very cold day, sir."

"Yes, Sir," he replied, "God is as good as his word."

The hearer was surprised, and looking in the minister's face as if astonished, said, "I don't understand you."

"Not understand me, why I say God is as good as his word. More than three thousand years ago God said, "While the earth remains, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night, shall not cease." Genesis 8:22.

How many proofs of the Divine faithfulness we are apt to overlook. Morning and evening, day and night, cold and heat — all bear testimony, that God is true to his word, and will never break a promise, or allow a prediction to fail. Believer, think of this, it will . . .
strengthen your faith,
banish your fears,
and comfort your heart.

Nature proclaims "God is true."

Providence joins with nature to attest, that he is "the faithful God."

Grace unites with providence and nature, to be witness, that "it is impossible for God to lie."

Are you tried, perplexed, and troubled? "God is as good as his word," for he has said, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows."

Have you to pass out of one trouble into another, and is one trial but introductory to another? God is true, for he has said, "We must suffer many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God."

Are your trials of a fiery, consuming, and parching character? It but confirms his word, for he has said, "I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure. I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold."

Every trial you meet with,
every trouble you pass through, and
all the temptations you experience —
but serve to confirm the truth of God's word, and if rightly viewed, and properly improved, would strengthen your faith.

There is . . .
no 'chance' in God's world,
no mistake in God's dealings,
nothing really severe in God's dispensations.
All has been arranged by infinite wisdom,
all is brought to pass by a special providence, and
all is, at the darkest moment, working together for your good.

Has God kept his word with the world for more than three thousand years? Then, surely he will keep his word with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us — but in every trying hour, he will be with us, prove himself to be our God, and work our deliverance.

Let us then listen to his "Fear nots."

Let us confide in his unalterable promises.

Let us rely on his immutable faithfulness.

Let us expect him to do as he has said, and confirm his word in our experience. He never did break his promises his people, and he never will. He set his love upon them freely at the beginning, and having loved them, he will love them to the end. His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting upon those who fear him. To every one of his chosen and redeemed people, he gives everlasting life, and assures them that they shall never perish. The love that made them his, will keep them his, and keep them his forever.

Cheer up then, poor tempted tried believer, "God is as good as his word," and he will not fail you, nor forsake you — but will make all things work out for your good, and glorify himself in you.

Has God kept his word with the world for so many centuries? Then he will do so to the end, and woe be unto the man that goes on still in his trespasses.

God has said, "The wicked shall be turned into Hell!" Then not one who lives and dies in his sins shall escape.

God has said, "Except a man be born again, he cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven." Then without a new birth, no one shall ever enter Heaven.

God has said, "Without holiness no man shall see the Lord!" Then, unless we experience the washing of regeneration, and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, we can never see the face of God with joy, or be admitted within the gates of the holy city.

The presence of every impenitent sinner in Hell, confirms the minister's statement that "God is as good as his word." The presence of every believer in Heaven bears witness to the same fact, that "God is as good as his word."

The reception of every coming sinner by the Savior, cries aloud, "God is as good as his word."

Every death we hear of;
every funeral we pass,
every open grave, and
every mourner that goes about the streets —
all, all unite in reminding us, that "God is as good as his word."

Let us then steadfastly believe whatever God has spoken, calmly expect whatever God has promised; and if we live in sin, rest assured, that God will make good every threatening he has spoken. Yes, "God is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent. Has he said, and shall he not do it? Or, has he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" "The Rock of Israel will not lie nor repent, for he is not a man that he should repent."

Let the testimony of Jesus weigh with us, abide with us, and influence us, "Heaven and earth shall pass away — but my word shall not pass away." Let us compare what God does, with what God has said, and often, very often we shall have to say, "God is as good as his word."