2 Corinthians 1:18-22 (NIV)
But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silas j and Timothy—was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
The Corinthians were angry at Paul for changing his plans, not stopping there on his way north to Macedonia, and now only planning to stop for a while on his way east to Judea. They saw his change of plans as breaking a promise to them. But before he continues his defense, because that’s what this part of his letter is, he takes the opportunity to talk to them about God’s faithfulness to them.
Even though Paul might have appeared to have been dishonest in this change of plans, he was not. He didn’t make his plans lightly. But he always gave God permission to change his plans whenever necessary.
But that’s because Paul was human and could only see a short distance into the future. And even that was dark and blurred. So, his plans changed when the circumstances changed. He had no choice but to adapt.
God on the other hand, can see the entire future of time and space with crystal clarity. He can even see the sudden shifts that so confuse and trouble people when they arise. In addition to everything else, that means that God, unlike Paul or any other human being, never has to change His plans or His promises. What He has promised from the very first promise in the Scriptures (Genesis 3:15), he will do to the letter, and at the exact time he planned. He can do that, because all the shifting tides of history, all the rising and falling of nations, all the changing of people’s minds were already seen, understood, and taken into consideration long before He ever made the promise.
Paul’s point is that even though the Corinthians felt like they couldn’t trust his promises, they can always trust God’s. So, they need to stand firm in Christ no matter what was happening, solid in the knowledge of God’s character, and also solid in the understanding that the Holy Spirit living and working in them is a deposit, ensuring the ultimate delivery of everything God promised.
Father, it is easy to take our eyes off You and to put them on Your servants instead, who, no matter how good and devoted they are, are still just human beings. Eventually, there is a strong possibility that they will let us down or disappoint us, not living up to our expectations or allowing the chinks in their armor to be exposed. But when that happens, we should not turn away from You. Even if Your servants disappoint us, You never will. Even if they break promises, You never will. Even if they fail to deliver what we expect from them, You never will. Help us, Lord, to always keep our eyes fully on You, and we will never be disappointed. Amen.
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