Promises are not limited to adults but are also many times made by children. For instance, at the prospect of having a treat, a child may declare, “If I can just have some ice cream, I promise to always keep my room clean for the rest of my life!”. That would indeed be quite a promise to make just for a bowl of ice cream but, but bigger promises have been made for much less; and not just by children!
By contrast, as we look at God as a promise-maker and a promise-keeper, we know (from our verse today as well as many others) that God always keeps all of His promises. Wow, that is a track record that even the best of mortals cannot even come close to. Every time God keeps a promise He has made and you acknowledge His faithfulness, God is glorified through you.
If your life is built on the promises of man instead of God’s promises, it could be likened unto standing at the edge of the ocean as the waves continually wash over the sand around where you are standing. The waves (and life will surely have its share of wind and waves and rain and, in general, storms!) will eventually remove even the sand on which you are standing.
What if you are standing on promises that are never kept by someone, no matter how much you wish them to be? That could be compared to standing on air — you will surely fall, for you have no foundation; nothing solid to stand on. Who or what do you put your trust in when it comes to the foundation of your life? This world makes many promises, all of which lead to disappointment and, in the end, destruction. What if your life revolves around the promises of people? Things may be great sometimes and other times not so great, because people can make promises just to get what they want at the time and never intend to even try to keep their promises or they could intend to keep their word but later find it is humanly impossible or just doesn’t seem to be in their best interest anymore.
The good news (there’s always good news when it’s God news!) is that God always keeps His promises. It doesn’t matter how much the wind and waves beat against you; your life will be solid when it is built on the promises of God. Furthermore, God will be glorified through your life as others see you still standing — standing on the promises of God!