Do promises still exist?
“I promise to love, honor, and cherish…”
“I promise. It wasn’t me…”
“I promise. I won’t forget…”
Perhaps you’ve said these words or heard them. Maybe you’ve been on the other side of a broken promise. It feels like our culture values promises less and less. And yet, it prioritizes what’s convenient or feels easy in the moment more and more.
I’ve experienced this firsthand. In the midst of wedding planning with my husband, I watched my father break his marriage vow. It shook me to my core. I was weeks away from making the biggest commitment of my life, and my father was walking away from his. It left me wondering: do promises even matter? Are they just fairy tales?
We are in the throes of an election cycle. We hear promises every day, but do they really mean anything? Do people really live up to the promises they make in today’s culture?
An Unbreakable Promise
The Bible speaks of a promise—one that cannot be broken. Hebrews 8 describes a “covenant,” a word we don’t often hear in today’s culture. This word carries a depth that far surpasses our human promises. The New Testament uses the word “covenant” around 33 times. It is sometimes translated as “testament.” Regardless of the translation, the essence remains: it is a divine, unbreakable promise.
This covenant isn’t fragile like our human promises. It doesn’t waver or change with time. While we may falter, God’s covenant is steadfast. It offers grace and mercy. It’s written on the hearts of those who trust Him and isn’t contingent on our ability to keep it.
The writer of Hebrews reveals the incredible nature of this covenant:
‘“This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.’
Hebrews 10:16-18, NLT
How remarkable is that? The Lord promises to never remember our sins again. That’s the heart of the gospel, the Good News. His love for us is so vast that He willingly died, taking the punishment for our sins, even though He was blameless. His sacrifice established the most profound promise of all time. This promise provides mercy, forgiveness, grace, and eternal relationship with our Creator.
Unlike the fragile promises we make, this covenant will never be broken. It’s beyond our full comprehension, but it’s worth believing in and clinging to. Even when the promises of this world fail, this promise from God stands firm, unshaken.
A Response to this Promise
My own wedding vows, made more than half my lifetime ago, still stand by the grace of God. I’m trusting that this promise will endure “till death do us part.”
I also hold fast to God’s covenant—the new promise brought into the world by Jesus’ death and resurrection. This promise will remain steadfast for eternity.
Friend, do you believe in promises? Not the kind we hear every day, but the one that truly matters? The one that was etched into the fabric of creation, secured by the blood of Christ, and offered freely to you?
If you haven’t yet, take hold of this promise today. Let the grace of God wash over you. Trust in Jesus, and experience the power of the covenant that will never be broken. Believe in the promise that will stand—forever.
Maybe you already believe and trust in this promise. Does your life reflect that trust? When I got married, I couldn’t wait to change my name, show my wedding ring to others, share pictures, and just tell the world.
When we enter this promise with the Lord, are we just as eager to share our new identity and tell others? Maybe you need this reminder today to overcome some weariness. I pray you have been encouraged.
This covenant is firm. It is unshakeable. It is good, and it is worth sharing…”till death do us part.”
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