“And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Hebrews 6:11-12
I watched the most recent Republican Presidential Debate on FOX Business News with my son.
At one point during the debate, he asked me what I thought about the candidates. I grumbled some affirmation regarding the candidate’s sound-bite solutions but mixed in my reservations as to whether any of them will actually fulfill their promises.
“I’m skeptical” was the conclusion of a decidedly negative lament on my doubts associated with the promises of leading candidates. To which, my son commented on the fact that I am the most skeptical person he knows. While, I had selected that particular word. It made me a little circumspect when I heard it used as an adjective to my character.
Granted, my son hasn’t been around very many skeptical people; we homeschool after all. Yet, I recoiled at being a skeptic in my son’s eyes due to the negative association that comes with that word. I was concerned by what I might be patterning for him.
Skeptical is defined as not easily convinced; having doubts or reservations. Based on this definition, I am a skeptic, particularly of politicians. I am not easily convinced by charismatic talk of how a candidate is going to make America better. I have doubts and reservations regarding the grand promises of those seeking political office because I have seen so few of those promises fulfilled.
In fact, I probably have gone beyond mere skepticism into full political cynicism. Cynical is defined as distrusting or disparaging the motives of others. In general, I distrust the motives of all politicians of both parties. My cynicism has come from years of being lied to or mislead by those in political office especially if that office is in Washington, DC.
Therefore, as I listen to candidates make their promises I am overwhelmed with an equal sentiment of skepticism and cynicism.
Skeptical – I doubt whether they have or can obtain the political ability to actually do what they say.
Cynical – I question whether their words are mere semantics formulated for an election-day victory.
Politicians in America have earned the skepticism and cynicism of the US voter. I wish more voters would think critically of what candidates are selling and hold them accountable to their promises. Yet, I have lost my optimism of the political process.
Years of broken pledges have fouled my political optimism with the contaminated water stored up in the reservoirs of campaign promises.
I am not pessimistic but realistic.
I am a secular skeptic but not universally skeptical.
I am a humanistic cynic but not celestially cynical.
I want to pattern for my son that it is important to think critically about all promises that are dependent upon the ability and will of the one making the promise. That is why I am skeptical and cynical of all politicians in their ability and will to keep their promises.
I desire my son to follow this same example of critical thinking and apply what the Bible teaches about God’s character to what He promises.
God’s character is why I am not universally skeptical.
“Ah, Lord God! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth
by your great power and by your outstretched arm!
Nothing is too hard for you.” Jeremiah 32:17
God has the ability to keep any promise that He makes. If God has the ability to create this world and all that is in it, then there is not a promise in the Bible that is beyond His omniscient, omnipotent power.
God’s character is why I am not celestially cynical.
“Anyone who does not love does not know God,
because God is love.” 1 John 4:8
God proved His love for us by sending His only Son into the world so that we might live through him. If God proved His love by giving His Son so that I can have eternal life, then there is not a promise in the Bible made with questionable motives.
With God, all skepticism can end because He can do everything He says.
With God, all cynicism can end because He has proven His motivation.
With God, we can have full assurance of hope in every promise that He has made.
“Prayer irrigates the fields of life with the waters
which are stored up in the reservoirs of promise.”
~ C. H. Spurgeon
PRAYER: Lord, thank you for the promises that you have made in the Bible. Thank you for revealing yourself to us so that we can have confidence in all your promises Lord, give me a full assurance of hope to the end. Father, grant that same assurance to my son and daughter. Help them to see mankind for who we are and You for who You are. Help us not to be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. I pray this in the precious name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen
A DEVOTED LIFE 