Trajectory
You know with all your heart and being that not even one of all the faithful promises the Lord your God made to you is left unfulfilled; every one was realized- not one promise is unfulfilled! (Joshua 23:14)
I live in the town of Maybe, in the state of Perhaps, and the country of Could Be. We humans are a flaky lot. Even when we have the resources to fulfill a commitment, we often back out if it suits our agenda.
Because I’ve come to expect unreliability, I assume God must be noncommittal too. I find myself looking for the exclusions, or metaphorical meanings to his promises. Jesus coming on the clouds, streets of gold, trees that heal some, fires that burn others—really? I try to believe, but my old nature rolls his eyes.
While I played Frisbee with our missionary family, the disk disappeared over the edge of a cliff and was lost among bushes by the Danube River. My nephew climbed down, followed the last known trajectory, and miraculously found the toy in the thicket, right where he predicted.
If we follow the trajectory of God’s promises that were fulfilled in the past, we find where his future answers will come to rest.
God promised Abraham he would make him into a great nation and bless all people through him. Fulfillment came through the Jewish nation, and the person of Jesus Christ. That promise was over fulfilled.
God promised a Messiah would be pierced for our sins. Roman crucifixion made his prophesy a reality in horrific detail. Again, over fulfilled in an unexpected manner.
Jesus promised a helper, someone to comfort and guide. Fifty days after his resurrection, tongues of fire distributed the Holy Spirit, who is with us today. This promise was understated, compared to the answer that unfolded through history.
By following the path of the previously completed covenants, we can predict where the blessings that are still up in the air will land. The trajectory of God’s faithfulness points to a future of surprising, radical fulfillment of promises. Heaven, hell, living with God, everything hinted in the Bible, will be over fulfilled.
Prayer: LORD my God, my heart rests in the future you spoke into existence.
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