Relying on Everlasting Love

25 APRIL

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee. Jeremiah 31:3

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Romans 5: 1-11

False imaginations may come to mind when we hear how God has in various ways and degrees been miraculously merciful toward His people. “Well, that happened before, but we do not know whether God’s purpose remains the same today,” we say,. “Indeed, He conferred this favor on ancient people, but we do not know whether He will extend the same grace to us today.”

The devil, in his craftiness, suggests these false ideas, which impede the flow of God’s favor by suggesting that His goodness may not come to us. The grace of God is stopped in its course when we distinguish ourselves from the fathers and all the servants toward whom God has been so merciful.

It is, therefore, useful for us to heed the prophet who shows us that whatever blessings God has at any time conferred on His ancient people should be ascribed to His gratuitous covenant. That covenant is eternal; hence there is no doubt that God is prepared today to secure the salvation of all the godly, for He remains ever the same and never changes. His desire is to have His fidelity and constancy ever shine forth in the covenant that He has made with His church.

Since the covenant of God is inviolable and cannot fail, even if heaven and earth are brought into confusion, we ought to be assured that God will deliver us. How so? We know that because God’s covenant remains the same, therefore His power to deliver us remains the same. This is how we ought to make use of this verse.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION:

Because God often works differently today from how He worked during the time of Scripture, we can have difficulty believing that He cares for us and protects us with the same divine power. Such thoughts are from the evil one and dishonor God and His eternal covenant. We must quell such thoughts and trust our omnipotent, caring God; He is the same then and now.

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke