Promises serve as the foundation of every aspect of human life: workplace interactions, marriages forming families, the simple act of buying and selling, and more. In the past, transactions were conducted through barter, but now they are completed using money or checks. Although some forms of currency might physically resemble mere tissue paper, they carry different values, such as a hundred-dollar bill or ten-dollar bill. This is due to the promises and agreements made between people. Similarly, our relationship with God is sustained by a covenant.
1. The Covenant Between God and His People Through Baptism
Baptism, which is undergone at the beginning of one’s religious life, is a sign of the covenant between God and His people. Water itself is the same whether it is used for bath or for baptism. However, we regard its use for baptism as special, because it is given God’s promise.
In the Old Testament times, God made circumcision a “sign between God and His people” (Ge 17:10–14). In the New Testament times, however, Jesus came and appointed baptism as a sign of God’s covenant with His people—a sign of salvation (Col 2:11; 1 Pe 3:21). To authenticate that baptism is an eternal covenant, with baptism Jesus gave us the bread and wine of the Passover symbolizing His flesh and blood, through which He put the sign of the eternal covenant in our body, proving that we are God’s children (Jn 6:53–54; Mt 26:17–28).
The Bible testifies that we are the children of promise, because we are bound together by this unchanging promise (Gal 4:28).
2. Kingdom of Heaven Only for Those Who Obey God’s Word
We have received God’s special promise and blessing through baptism. However, if we do not cherish our covenant with God and obey His word, we will eventually miss His blessings. Let’s reflect on the Israelites’ journey in the desert during Old Testament times.
God made a covenant with the Israelites through Moses, delivered them from Egypt, and led them to the promised land of Canaan. At that time, God did not let them enter Canaan right away, but had them journey in the desert for forty years to find whether they obeyed God’s word or not (Dt 8:2–16). During this period, God gave them various commandments, including observing the Sabbath. However, the Israelites did not obey God’s decrees, laws, and regulations during their time in the desert, resulting in the destruction of most of them (Eze 20:10–13). Only Caleb and Joshua, who fully obeyed the word of God, and those born in the desert were allowed to enter the promised land of Canaan (Nu 14:6–38).
The history of the Israelites entering Canaan serves as a prophecy for our entry into the heavenly Canaan, the kingdom of heaven, and it was written to instruct us (Heb 3:18–19; 1 Co 10:1–11). The Israelites, despite receiving God’s promise, ultimately did not receive His blessing because they failed to obey His commands and regulations. With this history in mind, we must diligently keep all of God’s commandments and laws, obeying His words until the day we enter heaven.
- Food for Thought
- What is the sign of the covenant between God and His people in the New Testament times?
- When we study the history of the desert, who can enter the kingdom of heaven?