(first clause)
God true to his word.
"I the Lord have spoken it: it shall come to pass, and I will do it."
I. THE SUPPOSITION THAT GOD MAY NOT BE TRUE TO HIS WORD. Certain observations and considerations shelter that supposition.
1. The changefulness of life. It looks as though things fell out by chance. We do not discern regular, orderly movements in Divine providence.
2. The tardy fulfillment of threat and promise. Both are delayed. Then men lose hold of both, and regard them as inoperative.
3. A false idea of God's mercy. It is thought that God must be too kind to execute his awful threatenings of wrath.
4. Unbelief. This condition of the souls of men is at the root of the error, and it is only by its existence that other considerations are laid hold of and made occasions for doubting God's certain performance of what he has foretold.
II. THE CERTAINTY THAT GOD WILL BE TRUE TO HIS WORD. This is based on important considerations.
1. The constancy of God. He is "the Eternal." Men vary, but God is changeless. What he wills today, he wills forever.
2. The perfect knowledge of God. We may be forced to change our plans by reason of the discovery of new facts. A change in our circumstances may compel a change in our conduct. But God knows all things, and he has prevision of all future contingencies when he makes his promise. Of course, he acts in regard to changing events and the alteration of the characters of men. But these things are all foreknown, and where his action is concerned with them it is conditioned accordingly from the first. There is no surprise and consequent sudden turn.
3. The power of God. We may fail to keep our word from simple inability. A man may promise to pay a sum of money by a certain day, and, in the mean time, unforeseen misfortunes may rob him of the power to redeem his word. No such chances can happen with the Almighty.
4. The mercy of God. Archbishop Tillotson pointed out that God was not so bound to fulfill his threats as to keep his promises of grace, because men had a claim on the latter, but no one would claim the former. Nevertheless, it would not be merciful in God to torture us with warnings of a doom that was not impending. God does remit penalties. But then, from the first he has promised pardon to the penitent.
III. THE CONSEQUENCES OF GOD'S BEING TRUE TO HIS WORD.
1. The vanity of unbelief. It may be with us as it was in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37-39). But the judgment will not be the less certain because we refuse to expect it.
2. The need of a sure refuge. God has threatened judgment against sin. He will be true to his word. Then we should be prepared to face the day of wrath. Our only refuge is to "flee from God to God."
3. The assurance of true faith. God has given gracious promises of pardon to his returning children (e.g. Isaiah 1:18). He will certainly be as true to those promises as to any threatenings of wrath against the impenitent. The eternal constancy of God is a rock of refuge for his humble, repentant, trusting children.