A Covenant with God

By Fred Wikoff

Covenant is a word that’s been around for a long time, and though it’s largely been replaced by contemporary synonyms, it’s still used in a surprisingly number of creative and diverse ways.  We have covenant laws, marriages, plants, novels, buildings, gardens, organizations, theaters, and films, to name just a few.  But more simply, a covenant is just a formal or solemn promise, and in many cases, a binding agreement among individuals or groups.

Those familiar with the Old Testament remember the many covenants between God and man.  Most of those covenants originated with God, and were later broke by mankind because of a lack of commitment and outright disbelief.  Still, despite mankind’s fickle history of broken promises and sinful alliances with Satan, God, out of love for us, offers yet another covenant.

Known in the New Testament as the “New Covenant,” it is a promise from God to freely give us eternal life, in exchange for simply believing in him.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

Much is said from the pulpit linking this “New Covenant” with the “Old Covenant.”  We’re told that Christ took the place of the lamb sacrifice of old, and become the sacrificial lamb for mankind’s sins and died “once and for all.”  (See Hebrews 9:24-26)  This is all well and good.  It’s important that we understand what a great and generous thing God has done for us.  However, we tend to dwell more on what we get from God, (eternal life) instead of focusing on fulfilling our part of the agreement. (Believing in Christ)     

God fulfilled His promise at Calvary.  Our part is ongoing and requires not only unflinching belief, but a willingness to obey Christ and allow Him to work though us moment by moment. And unless we do this we open the door for Satan, and risk losing all God has given us. 

The scriptures tell us that if we truly believe in Christ we will obey His commandments.  (See 1John 5:1-5)  Obedience has never been easy for mankind.  Christ is well aware of this and during His earthly life set an example for us by obeying God, and loving and serving others.  And He expects us to do the same out of our love for Him.

We are Christ’s chosen voice to the unbelieving.  And every time we obey Him we reaffirm our belief in Him, fulfilling our part of the covenant, and opening the way for “rivers of living water” to flow from us to a thirsty world. (See John 7:38)

 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20

Fred Wikoff writes from Eugene, Oregon. Eugenespud@msn.com