Let us speak of God’s covenants. It is necessary to understand the nature of the agreement that exists between the Creator and His creatures. There is no need to press the subject, except to create an understanding of the positions of the two parties in this particular, and peculiar contract. The greater power promises never to commit a breach of the covenant regardless of the conduct of the lesser; but, there is an “if” clause.
“If” you break my covenant (law),1 except you acknowledge [(i.e., humbly show me honor) by confession and repentance, (i.e., turn directly back from the breach)]2 the full weight of the prescribed penalty under this covenant will be in effect.3 Should the lesser party refuse or through neglect honor the “if” clause there is no remedy.
Usually in a legal contract the parties under the common law of the land seek to protect, or bind each other each other equally to the conditions of the contract. The legal wording is written to bind both parties. A breach of contract, by either party. nullifies the contract.
A covenant is an agreement between two unequal parties, where the party of greater power makes a contract with a party of lesser power. A covenant binds the greater power unconditionally, regardless of the actions of the lesser. In a covenant the greater power binds himself so that He is unable to arbitrarily break the covenant4 but the lesser party is not bound this way. It is based on the premise that the greater party is, by nature, unchangeable and immutable.
The covenant is worded such that the lesser party has less requirements than the greater. The exception is the “escape clause.” It is possible for the lesser to break the agreement when the greater party allows leniency by permitting a return to the original conditions, before the inception of the covenant. In this situation there is an “IF” clause pertaining to the lesser party5.
“Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.6
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken” (Isaiah 28: 9-13).
“Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (I Corinthians 10:12).
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).
There is a hungering in the mind of man for something; but he does not know what that thing is. For those who, in honesty, seek that elusive thing which constantly presents itself, God will add to them knowledge and wisdom. This hunger takes the form of a desire to find a new culinary delicacy to titillate the palate. Man often fills this desire with intimate relations with the opposite sex, or drugs, or alcohol, or any other sensual pleasure that strikes the fancy. But these substitutes only lead to more hunger, hunger that can never be satisfied.
The desire for food and water must be quenched often for the flesh to survive. For a time we cease to hunger and we cease to thirst, but the things of the spirit (soul) are lasting and do not fade with time. Eventually everyone who tries to satisfy the soul with the things of the flesh finds that their desire for the sensual is more of a necessity than food and water. These desires will always run amok. It is only when one returns to the covenant principles, instituted by our Creator, that one finds satisfaction in their soul.
When a human being receives the Holy Spirit at their rebirth, He (the Holy Spirit) does not go away of His own accord. God continues to hold out His hand even though man goes astray “for a season.” Because of this we remember the words of our Lord; “Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God” (Luke 4:12). Daily feeding on the word of God and meditating upon it’s principles (perseverance)renews us through work of the Comforter, the Holy Spirit; morning by morning, day by day. But this passage is also a warning.
The short book of Lamentations, particularly the third chapter, deals with the man that goes astray from God7. The conditions written there describe the gradual movement away from righteousness. Yet there is always hope for the penitent:
“It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD” (Lamentations 3: 21-26).
“Thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not” (Isaiah 30:15).
“Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem. Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believes shall not make haste. Judgment also will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet: and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies, and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report (Isaiah 28: 14-19).
It is the spirit (soul) of man that will be everlasting, not his flesh. When the natural spirit of man is acted upon by the Holy Spirit of God it does not fade. It is renewed immediately when and “if” there is a return to the Living God and Spiritual things. God holds out His hand with the gift; but, the gift must received and be acknowledged, His unconditional love returned to Him.
“And the Lord said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh” (Genesis 6:3).
“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;” And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14, 15)
- Law here is used in its broader sense as the entire word of God.
- “except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13: 3 & 5)
- Physical death (cessation of brain function or brain dead) ends the possibility of this condition.
- God is unable through the fact that He is not willing to break His covenants
- See John 14: 21
- This latter is a sobering thought; both Israel and Judah broke this law of God.
- See Psalm 39
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