THE PROMISE!

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephesians 1:13,14. (NKJV).

“Did you really do that, Grandad?” He grinned, leaned against the kitchen counter.

“Humph! That's his version. Want to hear how I met your Granddad, Janie?" Grandmother glanced at him. He winked.

“The summer after graduation, we worked at an orthopedic camp for underprivileged children. At first, I didn’t believe he'd graduated from the University of South Carolina with a major in Biology the same as I and grew up ten miles from me. Never saw him before."

"You’d never seen him?” He wiggled his eyebrows at Janie, making her giggle. 

“No,” Grandmother smiled. “But soon we were good friends.” She tilted her head. “He’d be leaving to study at the Medical University of South Carolina, and I’d be left behind.

“Separated by a hundred miles, he’d study medicine for four years while I remained to teach eighth-grade science. 

“He came to say goodbye. ‘Take a ride with me?’ He parked at the jewelry store, held my hand as we entered. 

“'Will you marry me?' He stood at the counter displaying rings. 'I don’t know the date yet. But I want to spend my life with you.' He slipped a beautiful ring on my finger. 

"At times I'd doubt, then remember. ‘No, it isn’t a dream. He’s coming back.’ I wore the guarantee on my left hand.” She wiggled her ring finger. The diamond glittered.

“That’s so romantic,” Janie sighed. Granddad winked at Grandmother, took her hand.

"Know what?" Janie looked at Granddad. "The Lord Jesus offers us new life with Him. He loves us and sealed us with the Spirit of Promise, the guarantee of our inheritance. The Greek word for guarantee can indicate a ring."

"Like you gave Grandmother? A promise you'd come back to marry her?"

"Absolutely. We can be sure the Lord Jesus, our Bridegroom, will keep His promise to us, the bride." He hugged Grandmother. "He'll come back."

Kingdom Thinking. The Lord promises never to leave nor forsake me and loves me with an everlasting love. He sealed me with the Holy Spirit of promise. When doubts come, I remember His promises and praise Him. The Lord offers the same to you. Won’t you come?