THE GUARANTEE OF INTIMACY (PART 3)

The guarantee of intimacy assumes honesty, transparency, and vulnerability.

Only one who speaks the truth can be counted on to keep a promise.
Only one with nothing to hide can be trusted.
Only one who risks his heart can receive a heart.

From whence comes the power to keep a promise?  To never lie or change one's mind, speaking and then acting, promising and then fulfilling?

First, the power to speak is assumed, the  power to will words with meaning.  Next, the power to act, to choose activities based upon abilities. 

Now, I notice that God spoke in the beginning, and what He said happened IMMEDIATELY. 

"Let there be light."  And there was light.
"Let there be sky."  And there was sky.

IMMEDIATELY.

This word, IMMEDIATELY, occurs repeatedly in the gospel according to Mark. 

Perhaps there is a clue.
I should mostly speak or promise that which I can perform IMMEDIATELY.
But what about marriage, or salvation, more importantly?

With marriage, once the "I do's" are said, and once the man and woman are pronounced man and wife, they kiss, an immediate act that is a prelude to the physical consummation.  But what of the permanent commitment or promise?  I believer here is where the ring shows the nature of promise. 

The marriage ring, usually gold, is put on IMMEDIATELY;  representing lasting commitment because gold lasts, even when it is put through fire.  The circle of gold represents endlessness in purity, gold being purified by fire.  Yes, the ring is a symbol, but a symbol of speech in action.  They said they do, and the ring shows this to all.  Unless they say, I no longer do...in divorce or adultery, the "I do" stands until death.  The same seems true for salvation.

The believer says, "I believe," and until he or she says or shows in action, "I no longer believe," their belief stands. 

BEHOLD, THE POWER OF WORDS!!

I see why in times past, in even in the present, persecutors of the church sought renunciation from Christians.  And the contract of marriage is broken by a contract of divorce...words of commitment and acceptance replaced by words of broken commitment and rejection.  The act of adultery is a breach in the words "forsaking all others."  And the acts of sin, of idolatry and adultery, are a breach in the self-denial of Christ's disciples.

What kind of man keeps promises?

What kind of woman maintains faithfulness?

I believe it is the man or woman who makes a habit of truthfulness in every utterance, even in very little things.

What hurts worst than betrayal!? 

How did you feel when you trusted someone and she poisoned your heart with a rotten promise forgotten?

Or what is more refreshing than one who makes real effort to keep his word?