Keeping a Christmas Promise

Last week the wind was bitter and snow dusted the cemetery as I pushed against the car door that seems glued shut by the force of the squall. My traditional pilgrimage to my family’s grave plots was again met with a blast of winter weather that always seems to accompany the yearly ritual. This annual trek started years ago when Dad complained that I never went to the cemetery to see the family graves. My theological explanations and rationalization for my lack of attendance did not seem to diminish his disappointment. He commented that after he was gone there would be no one to put the “Christmas blankets” of greens on the graves.

One part love and one part guilt joined together to generate a promise from me. “Look Dad,” I said, “I promise that after you are gone; I’ll carry out the tradition as long as I can.” Several weeks after those words were spoken, the day after Christmas 1997; Dad unexpectedly went home to be with the Lord.

Almost a year later, on a frigid day in December 1998, I was at the cemetery trying to fasten “Christmas blankets” to frozen ground as snow flakes fell. All the while I knew Dad was in the perfect environment of heaven with the Lord, along with Mom, my sister, and other family members who had trusted Jesus Christ to be their Savior. For the Bible promises that believers in Christ can be assured that when we are absent from the body we are at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8). Yet there I was with frozen red hands pounding metal fasteners in the ground. Why? Because I made a promise – a promise my children witnessed – and it was a promise I intended to keep.

There will come a day when I will not be able to keep that promise to my Dad, because, after all, I am human. This is the problem with human promises. They have limitations attached to the best of intentions. Think of some of the limiting factors we face in fulfilling our word including physical frailty, limited resources, finite life spans, and the inability to control many other circumstances associated with our humanness. This year I was able to drive to north Philadelphia and keep my promise. I have no idea if I can do that next year.

I thank God that He has no limiting factors associated with His promises. His abilities are unbounded. His resources are unlimited. His integrity is impeccable. His power is immeasurable. His character is saturated and overflows with mercy and grace. As such, I have every confidence that God will honor His word and fulfill that which He says He will do. He is not fickle like humans often are.

A major demonstration of God’s ability to keep his promises is displayed at Christmas. God promised Mary, Joseph, and shepherds, through angelic messengers, that Jesus would come and be the one to save people from their sin (Luke 1:26-33; 2:8-12; Matthew 1:20-21). Their message was simply a continuation of the prophetic promises God had given previously concerning Jesus in the Old Testament (i.e. he would be born in Bethlehem; he would have the specific genealogical heritage; he would have a miraculous birth; he would be worshipped by royalty; his birth would be accompanied by mourning; he would have an Egyptian connection; he would have an amazing name; etc.). God did exactly what He said He would do that first Advent.

Seeing how God kept His promise at Christmas encourages me as I consider the other promises God makes throughout the pages of Scripture. I am promised that God will never leave me nor forsake me (Hebrews 13:5). I have the assurance that my God shall supply all my needs (Philippians 4:19). I am encouraged to realize that God’s Word guarantees that nothing shall separate me from the love of God – no not even death (Romans 8:35-39). I realize too that God’s promises touch not only my present life, they touch my future too. God the Son, Jesus Christ, promised a Second Advent – that he would come again and take me to heaven to a place He has prepared for me (John 14:1-6). God who has fulfilled His promises, is fulfilling His promises, and will fulfill His promises as we enter eternity.

At Christmas I remember that I have made a promise I hope I can keep. Even more importantly at Christmas, I am reminded that God can and does keep His promises.