The act of pledging or setting aside something—a dedication—is what defines the word commitment. So, when we commit ourselves to doing something, we have to follow through, or else we could be considered dishonest and even unreliable. Once we say yes, we have to do it, unless subsequent circumstances justify a change. Remember what Christ said: “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37).
We all may have specific goals in life, but how committed are we in pursuing those goals? If there is something we are striving for and are serious about, do we keep trying or will we give up soon after we have started? There may be a “trial and error” process to find out whether or not we are pursuing God’s Will. Nevertheless, to be successful, we have to work hard and stay committed unless it becomes clear that we are not following God’s lead (Ecclesiastes 9:10).
As members of God’s Church, we took an important step when we chose to commit ourselves to God’s Way of Life. It started with our calling, which then led to our baptism. We knew as soon as we made the commitment, that our lives would be changed and that there would be no turning back. Our lives would become increasingly difficult, yet at the same time we would experience a change—a good change. We were filled with God’s Holy Spirit. We have God’s special protection, and we grow in wisdom and strength, bringing us closer to the fulfillment of God’s master plan. We don’t need to be afraid, and when we doubt, we can be reassured through His Word: “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).
We shouldn’t be afraid of what is going on in this world today, but we must be committed to God’s Way, and we can understand what He promises us. There is a responsibility that we must endure, because in order to live God’s Way of Life, we must fear or respect Him. When we respect God, we fear to break His commandments and to forsake our commitment we have with Him. We became fully committed to the truth when we were baptized. Because we know these things, we have to ask ourselves: How committed are we still to the truth and God’s Way of life?
Do we sometimes lack in faith? Do we have faith that God will protect us during the terrible times we will be going through? Will God show us mercy? When God gives us a command, will we comply or will we complain? What did Noah and Abraham do? Hebrews 11:6-10, 17-18 gives us the answer. We have to be consistent with what God tells us. We can’t agree with something that God says and at the same time disagree with something else that God commands us. We do not want to be lukewarm, as we read about in the third chapter of the Book of Revelation. An action is required by obeying and following through with God’s Word (compare Hebrews 12:25-29).
Another important decision one may make in life would be the commitment of marriage. However, before marriage, there is a prior commitment in the Western world that one goes through first – an engagement. The Bible speaks of “betrothal.” The future bride and groom have to be engaged or “betrothed” to one another before they consummate the marriage. Most in this world do not see the similarities between physical marriage and God’s plan for our salvation.
At the time of baptism, we become spiritually betrothed to Christ. We are not going to receive the gift of everlasting life, unless we receive God’s Holy Spirit first at the time of baptism and follow through with our commitment to God’s Way of Life by obeying Him. Likewise, as physical engagement or betrothal precede the consummation of our physical marriage, so our spiritual “betrothal” with Christ at the time of our baptism precedes the spiritual consummation of our marriage with Him at the time of His return. Being married and becoming one flesh, as physical human beings, give us a foretaste of what it will be like being married to Christ and, as Spirit beings, becoming one Spirit with Him (Revelation 19:7-9).
Christ is going to marry His Bride, which is the Church, when He returns. Up until that point, the Bride—betrothed to Him—is making herself ready, as we read in Ephesians 5:25-30. We can only become perfect and “one” with Him within the Church, within His body (compare John 15:6).
There are ways that commitments can be delayed. Many times, we “can’t get” the things “going” that we plan. There may be valid reasons for that. However, when it comes to the seriousness of God’s Plan, we cannot delay. We cannot be asleep. We have to stay committed at all times since we don’t know when Christ will return. We don’t want to be asleep when that happens. The parable of the five wise and the five foolish virgins should come to mind (Matthew 25:1-13). Do we realize that Christ’s coming may be delayed if God needs to wait for serious repentance of some of us whom God wants to see in His Kingdom (compare 2 Peter 3:7-9)?
We should all realize the importance of our individual commitment with God and with each other. Christ said to His Church in John 15:12: “This is My commandment, that you love ONE ANOTHER as I have loved you.”
Can we see how two important decisions in our lives correlate with each other? The commitments to our physical and spiritual marriage are life-long agreements. If we want to be in God’s Kingdom, we need to be baptized, receive God’s Holy Spirit and be betrothed to Him, so we can receive everlasting life and consummate our marriage with Him when He returns. This is perceived as a mystery in this world today, but we in the Church of God have been BLESSED now in receiving this gift of understanding.
