Recently, we travelled to South Carolina’s Low-country to keep our grandsons while their parents attended an all-day workshop. We enjoyed our outing and were heading home after lunch. As I travelled north on US 17, I switched to the inside lane, anticipating our left turn up ahead.
We came upon a Charleston County Sheriff’s deputy following a car in the right lane and travelled along at the posted speed limit, 60 mph. The car turned, the deputy accelerated, and once he got up the road, the rest of us picked up speed.
Now I’m going 70, still driving in the left lane with cars beside me and behind me flowing with the traffic. Then I noticed the deputy way up ahead suddenly slowing down, so I backed down to 60.
When we caught up with him, he worked his way over, slid in behind me, and turned on his blue lights.
Surprised, I asked, “Can he shoot radar backwards?” thinking he caught me going 70 in a 60-mph zone. I turned on my blinker, moved over to the right lane and prepared to pull over when he abruptly accelerated along with the others and left me puttering along obeying the speed limit.
I thought, “He wanted me to get out of the way so these other cars could break the speed limit!” Apparently, he felt I was holding up traffic, which was now going, with his blessing, 70-plus mph.
How crazy is that? I’ve been pulled over for speeding, but never for going the speed limit. I was so confused.
We live in a confusing, uncertain world, don’t we?
Pastor John Waters recently observed, “Things that are right are made to be wrong and things I was taught are wrong are made out to be right. The world is upside down and wrong side out.”
It seems we cannot be certain of anything, or can we?
The only constant in this world of uncertainty is God Himself. Here are ten certainties you can bank on:
• God’s Word is certain. The world may not agree with it, and may call it outdated, yet “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever” (Isaiah 40:7). God’s Word is still God’s truth, whether or not we like what it says.
• God’s desire to give salvation is certain. “(God) is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
• God’s hearing our prayer is certain. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us” (I John 5:14).
• God’s immutability is certain. “Immutable” means God never changes. He is the same today as He was yesterday. Sam Storm wrote, “What all this means, very simply, is God is dependable. Our trust in Him is a confidant trust, for we know that He will not, indeed cannot, change.” Malachi 3:6 reads, “For I am the Lord, I do not change.”
• God’s unlimited power is certain. Psalm 33:6 declares, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry hosts by the breath of his mouth.”
• God’s omniscience is certain. God possesses all knowledge. “Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure” (Psalm 147:5).
• God’s wisdom is certain. God’s wisdom is infinite, consistent, and without flaw. He can see what we cannot see. He always has the bigger picture in view as He works things out for our good and His glory. Romans 11:33 exults, “Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!”
• God’s faithfulness is certain. Faithfulness is an essential part of God’s nature and character. Our dependable God always keeps His promises. Deuteronomy 7:9 asserts, “Know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy …”
• God’s love is certain. Paul asked, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” (Romans 8:35), then listed several calamities people thought might separate us. He then strongly answered, nothing “can separate us!”
• God’s goodness is certain. I Chronicles 16:34 admonishes, “Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.” Also see Psalm 30:19.
Even in this crazy, uncertain world, we find assurance when we remember God’s certainties.
[David L. Chancey, the Writing Pastor, enjoys preaching, writing, and spending time with family. See more of his writings, including his books, at www.davidchancey.com. Contact him at davidlchancey@gmail.com.]
