When promises go to pot
In 1928, presidential candidate Herbert Hoover promised “a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage” to all who voted for him. Hoover won the election in a landslide and less than a year later, the country plunged into the depths of the Great Depression. Not only were people forced to go without chicken and cars, many of them lost their pots and garages to boot.
So much for campaign promises.
Every election cycle brings political candidates offering promises as they attempt to sway the electorate. But how many campaign promises can you recall that have actually been kept by the winners? The historical fact is, most campaign promises are as reliable as Mr. Hoover’s ill-fated proclamation. Forces beyond the vision or control of the promise maker can easily render those promises impractical if not impossible.
The apostle Peter had something important to say about promises. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
The apostle John tells us unequivocally that there is only one promise that comes with a guarantee of eternal prosperity. (John 3:16) God promises that someday there will be no wars, no poverty, no tears, and no death. So, which assurance can we safely rely on – the assurance of humans or the assurance of God? Unlike campaign rhetoric, there are no forces strong enough to undo the power of God to keep His promises.
Those of us who have dedicated ourselves to the ministry of Awana have this as our joy - we have the privilege of teaching children the only promise they can depend on. It’s the promise Jesus gave us –an abundant, everlasting life with Him.
I’ll take that over a pot of chicken any day.