ORSBORNAGAIN (8)
A devotional series by Major Rob Birks
ORSBORNAGAIN is meant to introduce the poetry of the first Poet General, Albert Orsborn (1886-1967) to a new audience and to reintroduce his works to dyed-in-the-(tropical)-wool Salvationists.
These are not new songs.
However, the lyrics are jam-packed with new life, which may be missed during corporate worship. Re-examined through scripture and experience, Rob Birks intends through an examination of these scared songs to renew the spiritual fervor of believers, and point seekers to their Savior.
Since the Lord redeemed us from the power of sin,
Since his Spirit sealed us other lives to win,
Grace enough is given that we may endure,
And we prove the promises of God are sure.
All the promises of God are sure,
Through the ages shall their truth endure;
Hallelujah! To the heart that’s pure
All the gracious promises of God are sure.
What the Lord ordaineth will be for the best,
Just to trust and follow him is perfect rest;
Never will he fail us if our faith is pure
For we know the promises of God are sure.
Hope will give us courage in the darkest night,
Faith and love will make the heavy burden light;
Let us then be cheerful and our hearts assure
That the gracious promises of God are sure.
Albert Orsborn
893-Our Response to God – Life and Service, Testimony
In 1990, University of Colorado football coach Bill McCartney (Coach Mac) founded a Christian para-church movement. Promise Keepers (PK) gained momentum throughout the 90s, as its arena conferences drew hundreds of thousands of (mostly) men. As a movement, PK peaked at its 1997 “Stand in the Gap” event at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. In addition to lively worship, inspiring messages, and intense prayer times, the attendees at PK events were challenged to make seven promises, paraphrased here:
- Honor Jesus Christ through worship prayer and obedience.
- Pursue vital relationships with a few other men for accountability.
- Practice spiritual, moral, ethical and sexual purity.
- Build strong marriages and families.
- Support the mission of your church and your pastor.
- Demonstrate biblical unity by reaching beyond racial and denominational barriers.
- Influence the world by obeying the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.
I am aware that the PK movement has its critics, and it’s not as popular or influential as it once was. Still, as far as promises go, these are pretty good. Regardless of gender (with a slight change to promise two), we would all do well to make and keep these or similar promises.
That’s the key though, isn’t it: keeping the promises we make? Anyone can make promises. It’s easy. You just start a sentence with “I promise” and then add the specific commitment(s). Sometimes it can be even easier than that. In most wedding ceremonies, soldier enrollments, officer commissionings, and other promise-making moments, it’s not out of the ordinary for someone else to read off the promises, and the promise-maker to merely raise a hand and say “I do” or “I will” (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
When I became a soldier in The Salvation Army, I promised to adhere to the principles and practices of our movement, to obey my leaders, and to, among other commitments, “make the values of the Kingdom of God and not that values of the world the standard for my life.” So far, so good. When I married Stacy, I promised to love her as Christ loves his bride. By God’s grace, I’ve kept that promise. And by that same grace, it will remain kept. I’ve made many other promises in my life. I’ve even kept some of them. Others, sadly, have been broken beyond all recognition.
Here’s my point: Promises made by humans are subject to the imperfections and failings of the promise-maker. Some will be kept, while others will be sacrificed mercilessly for personal pleasure or gain or convenience. I don’t put any faith in the adage, “Promises were meant to be broken.” Whoever said that originally was just looking for a way out, like a chicken exit at an amusement park’s most frightening ride. But neither do I believe this adage, “A promise made is a promise kept,” unless we’re speaking of God’s promises to us. In that case, we can expect a 100 percent cemented commitment on his part.
God has never made a promise to his people (or those who opposed him, frankly) that he hasn’t kept. And they are “gracious promises.” God always has our best interest at heart. It’s rare that I disagree with an Orsborn lyric, but “Never will he fail us if our faith is pure” can give the impression that if our faith is not pure, God may fail us. Not true! Never true! No way! No how! “All the promises of God are sure.” Whether or not you or I are promise keepers (and we should be), God is!
For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ (2 Cor. 1:20a).