PRISONERS AND PROMISES - Pastor Ed Calderon

PRISONERS AND PROMISES

Galatians 3:15-25

Douglas E. Moore shares the following illustration: - Booker T. Washington

describes meeting an ex-slave from Virginia in his book Up From Slavery : "I found

that this man had made a contract with his master, two or three years previous to

the Emancipation Proclamation, to the effect that the slave was to be permitted to

buy himself, by paying so much per year for his body; and while he was paying for

himself, he was to be permitted to labor where and for whom he pleased.

"Finding that he could secure better wages in Ohio, he went there. When freedom

came, he was still in debt to his master some three hundred dollars.

Notwithstanding that the Emancipation Proclamation freed him from any

obligation to his master, this black man walked the greater portion of the distance

back to where his old master lived in Virginia, and placed the last dollar, with

interest, in his hands.

In talking to me about this, the man told me that he knew that he did not have to

pay his debt, but that he had given his word to his master, and his word he had

never broken. He felt that he could not enjoy his freedom till he had fulfilled his

promise." (Up From Slavery –Booker T. Washington)

There was a time (not so long ago) when a man’s word and a handshake was as

good as a written contract? Sadly in our day, some people will look you in the eye,

make you a promise with no intentions of honoring their obligations. Even those

who are honorable and possess integrity may still let you down. There have been

times in my life (as a result of certain circumstances) where I have failed to follow

through on promises that I have made.

Sometimes we let people down, maybe not on purpose, but we fail them

nonetheless. But I am thankful as we read the Word of God that we find some

promises that will endure! Not one time has God ever made a promise that He did

not ...or will not keep! When God promises you that He will answer you

In Galatians 3:15-25, we see that the promise made to Abraham was not nullified

when the Law was presented 430 years later.

The Law was given because of transgressions until the Seed, Christ Jesus, came.

The Law, unable to impart life, worked to show that everyone was a sinner. This

was needed so that what was promised might be given to those with faith in Christ.

Rather than being opposed to God’s promises, the Law was a tutor to lead us to

Christ so we could be justified and freed from the Law’s tutelage.