In this age of fast-food drive-ins and microwave meals, it's understandable that we've come to view God's promises as quickly delivered, always warm and always filling our momentary desire. While God's promises are often delivered, to say they're always a timely product of our demand, delivered to fit our taste is simply not true.

Jeremiah was told by God to help the people remember the promise He made to Abraham. But the prophet was also told to remind them of the obligation they owed God in return for His favor. The promise included the privilege to one day live in a land prepared in advance for them, flowing with milk and honey and beyond their expectation. Their obligation was to honor God and be obedient to His word.

Interestingly, the promised land in which the people longed to one day live and prosper was actually the ground upon which they stood. (Vs. 5) That's right, God kept His promise to Joshua as he led their forefathers into the land of Canaan, giving them possession over the occupants of the land. But now, hundreds of years later, the children of the victorious Hebrew pilgrims, were captives in the land God had given them as a promise - all because they failed to keep their side of the agreement.

When God's promises are conditional based on reciprocal action, we call it a conditional covenant. The people in Jeremiah's day were suffering in captivity in their own land because they failed to honor their side of the agreement. Today, we have a "new" covenant, or "testament" as it's sometimes called. The New testament is the promise made by Jesus to his disciples in the upper room before his crucifixion. But his promise is valid for whoever will call on the name of the Lord for salvation, not just a certain race.

When Jesus broke bread and drank wine with His friends in the upper room, He declared an another conditional covenant. The covenant says that salvation and eternal life in heaven is promised to all those who come by faith in Jesus Christ atoning (sacrificial) work. The new covenant is sealed by the shed blood of Jesus on the cross. When we come by faith confessing our sin and ask for forgiveness, repentant of our sin in sorrow and allowing the Holy Spirit to reign in our heart and change us, we satisfy the condition of the covenant.

Today, the word of the Lord came to me and like Jeremiah, I have reminded God's people of the promise He made to us. I also have been faithful to remind us of the condition of that promise. Paul stated our obligation to God in simple terms when he wrote to the Colossians: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." (Vs 3:23)

Christian, are you keeping your part of the bargain?

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Jr. 10:1-11:23 Cl. 3:18-4:18 Ps. 78:59-72 Pr. 24:28-29 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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