Perspectives on the Landscape of Life
By DJ Note
The Covenant Keeper
I’ll be up front with you. This month’s theme—covenant—has been a bit tough for me to deal with. Not because I doubt the sanctity of the word, quite the contrary. It’s value and sacredness is buried deep within my soul. It’s tough because of the arrogant disregard it’s given today, or at best, the ignorance of its paramount importance in our daily lives.
I began to wonder how people might define covenant if asked and decided to conduct my own unofficial poll from behind the counter. I randomly asked a number of customers, both men and women, for their help in my endeavor, offering a note-sized piece of paper bearing the words—“Define: covenant.”
The following definitions were listed among the answers I gleaned from the female perspective: “A lifelong commitment not based on feelings; A contract; A promise between you and God; A commitment between two people that is honoring to God; A promise to trust, to love.”
Among the male respondents came these: “A binding contract that cannot be broken or taken away, like marriage for life; An agreement between two parties defining a relationship initiated by sacrifice; A pact made between people, being bigger than a promise made with the bindings of love.” Last but not least, eight descriptive but individual terms—“Real, Binding, Sacred, Intimate, Trustful, Sacrifice, Free, Relationship, Marriage.”
Given the state of our world today, it was encouraging to read that most still see the value of a covenant kept, at least in theory. It was however, sad for me to witness one young married couple that gave up in frustration without an answer, as neither was able to define the word at all.
In English, “covenant” is defined as a formal binding agreement, usually involving legal restrictions. But to the Hebrew mind, “covenant” covered a plethora of human relationships, which bound the parties in mutual obligations. However, it is important to note that, in Scripture, a covenant involving God is unique because God alone sets the conditions.
Regardless of the legal, moral, ethical or spiritual boundaries, covenant always means that something has changed between two parties where unadulterated trust must abound.
And isn’t that what we’re asked to do in our relationship with God? Trust Him? Trust His word, His timing, His plan?
Come what may in this life, God has made a covenant plan with each of us. And He is the ultimate “Covenant Keeper.” We stumble and fall, and too often renege on our promises to Him, but He is forever unwaveringly faithful. His promises are not based upon our performance, but upon His unblemished character. He knows our weaknesses and loves us anyway.
Like the arms of a loving father who encourages his little child to jump from the side of the pool into his capable embrace, God is ever faithful. And He’s calling us.
Will you jump into His arms? Whatever situation life finds you in; will you trust the everlasting embrace of Him who promises to love you forevermore? The strength of His commitment lies before you. Will you simply stand on the edge and refuse to participate? Or will you revel in the wondrous promises of “The Covenant Keeper”—the One who, with His own shed blood, promised to love and care for you eternally?
It’s up to you. Jump!
Deborah J. Note writes from Eagle Point, Oregon.