His Faithfulness
The Rock, his work is perfect; For all his ways are justice: A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is he. — Deuteronomy 32:4
God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. — 1 Corinthians 1:9
Author
Faustino de Jesús Zamora Vargas
Summary: God’s faithfulness endures when our faith wavers, when we fail, or when we forget His promises. His mercies are renewed, and His covenant of peace will not be broken. To rest in His faithfulness, we need to heed His Word and nurture our fellowship with Him. When we sin, we must not run away or hide: we can confess humbly and receive His forgiveness. The gospel sustains both those who do not yet know Christ and Christians who are called to stand firm, without fear and with courage. Jesus Christ is the greatest proof of God’s faithfulness and the foundation for growing more faithful to Him each day.
When I think of God’s faithfulness, a whole host of beautiful verses come to mind that sum up our Lord’s faithful character. But there is one that sounds like a song from the Lord to the heart of unfaithful humanity. The Word says: “Though the mountains be shaken and the hills tremble,
my mercy will not depart from you, nor will my covenant of peace be broken.” (Is 54:10). Yes, we are like the hills and mountains. God steadies and encourages us at every step, but when the hour and the evil day come, we tremble, we collapse, and we forget his promise of faithfulness. Even when we show indifference and ignore his precious promises, he tells us that his help and provision will never fail us. Nothing seems to portray God’s character and his relationship with his children as powerfully as his faithfulness, which is timeless and everlasting. “His mercies are renewed every morning; great is his faithfulness!” (Lam 3:23)
It is hard to rest in God’s faithfulness if we live with our backs turned to the Word and neglect fellowship with our Lord. When our faith is tested by the falls we suffer in our daily walk, when we fail and want to flee from God’s presence, trying to hide our sin behind little fig leaves, his mercies and his faithfulness show us that, despite our ingratitude and disloyalty, he remains faithful. “But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one” (2 Thes 3:3).
He is worthy of our trust, but the trouble in our hearts is that we doubt that faithfulness and tear down the walls of our faith. “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself” (2 Tim 2:13). Through the centuries, God has patiently endured his children’s lapses of faith and has exalted those who have been faithful, trusting in his faithfulness. I cannot imagine Noah building an ark for decades if he had not trusted in God’s faithfulness.
Right now I recall the parable of the prodigal son, the faithfulness of the loving father, and his arms open to forgive human wretchedness. The son confessed his sin and sincerely humbled himself, and the father clothed him in new garments of forgiveness, restoring a past marked by arrogance, pride, and rebellion. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 Jn 1:9).
The gospel is hope, first for those who do not know Christ, but also for the Christian. When Christ calls us to stand firm and live out our faith, he is calling us to rest in his faithfulness, without fear and with courage, even when our faith does not always meet his expectations. He knows us; he knows our spiritual limps, yet he delights in reminding us of his covenant of grace. “But then, if some lacked faith, does their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous and strong.” Rom 3:3 (NIV).
There is no greater proof of God’s faithfulness than his having revealed to us his Son Jesus Christ, the faithful image of the Father, our reason and foundation for resolving to grow each day in faithfulness to him.
God bless you!