As Sure as the Sunrise

Published in Pasugo, Aug 2005

Sunrise is sure every morning. Daybreak follows even the darkest of nights. Even if there is a hurricane, the sun still rises above the thick clouds. To this certainty is likened God’s continuous love, mercy, and sure blessings to persons dear to Him – those whom He considers as His friends:

“The LORD’S unfailing love and mercy still continue, Fresh as the morning, as sure as the sunrise.” (Lam. 3:22-23, Today’s English Version)

But, how can we become His friends?

THE VALUE OF friendship can never be overstated. It is one of the things we cannot do without. God, through the Bible, says, “Two are better off than one… If one of them falls down, the other can help him up…” (Eccles. 4:9-10, Today’s English Version). In fact, the feelings of happiness and security that are derived from true friendship even manifest in healthy living. This fact, among others, shows how valuable friendship is in man’s life.

Friendship, apart from the love and companionship one gets within one’s family, is also a common theme of movies, novels, poems, and songs. Lyrics about it in many songs stay with one long after one has heard them.

True and untrue friends
When asked, “Whom do you consider as true friends?”, you would probably describe them as those who empathize and stay with you when all else have left; those without whom you feel incomplete, etc. And, for many, true friendship does not fade with the years gone by. The Bible describes some friends as “more loyal than brothers” (Prov. 18:24, Ibid.).

On the other hand, who is an untrue friend? The one who befriends you because of the gifts you give or favors you do (Prov. 19:4, 6, New Life Testament); betrays your trust or lifts his heel against you (Ps. 41:9, New International Version); sets a trap for you (Ps. 142:3, Living Bible); lets you down (Prov. 18:19, Ibid.); forgets, detests, and turns against you when you are down (Job 19:14, 19, NIV); whose friendship does not last (Prov. 18:24, TEV), among others.

The best friend
Since human friendships are fragile and not without flaws, we must choose carefully those whom we will trust and rely on as our friends. And we need to realize that, above anyone else, there is Someone whom we should fully trust because His love never fails, never grows cold, and can never be equaled. He is God, the truly best friend one can have. His compassion never wanes and His faithfulness never changes. He has sure promises to those who are dear to Him:

“… I will never leave you; I will never abandon you.” (Heb. 13:5-6, Ibid.)

“The mountains and hills may crumble, but my love for you will never end; I will keep forever my promise of peace …” (Isa. 54:10, Ibid.)

“… My salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail.” (Isa. 51:6, NIV)

Moreover, people who are dear to God are certainly fortunate because “the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry” (Ps. 34:15, Ibid.). “We can trust God to keep his promise” (Heb. 10:23, TEV) because He does not lie; He does and is able to do anything that He promises. Think about it – having the Almighty God, maker of heaven and earth, as your friend:

“God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing…” (Heb 13:5-6, Jerusalem Bible)

Abraham: ‘God’s friend forever’
The possibility of God’s befriending a person is shown by the relationship between Him and Abraham, the forebear of the nation of Israel. Abraham came from the ancient city of Ur, and God had called him to serve Him.

What were some of the characteristics of Abraham that endeared him to God?

He obeyed God unconditionally. When called by Him to leave his homeland and his relatives, he obeyed “not knowing where he was going” (Heb. 11:8).

He worshipped God always. As a true servant, he worshipped Him even while in his journeys (Gen. 13:3-4, 18).

He was loyal to Him. He made tedious and dangerous journeys in foreign and uncharted lands just to obey God. Although he and his wife experienced famine, “they did not keep thinking about the country they had left; if they had, they would have had the chance to return” (Heb. 11:15, TEV)

He had an unwavering faith, coupled with and proven by works. He fully believed in God’s promise that he would father a son and a great nation, though he was already almost 100 years old an his wife was barren (James 2:20-24).

He maintained his obedience to God’s will. When God commanded Abraham to offer to Him as a burnt sacrifice his only son, Isaac, he again obeyed unconditionally. Abraham would have offered his beloved son in this manner had not an angel stopped him from doing it; with that, he passed God’s test.

Because of his faith God accepted him as righteous. And so, God called him His friend (James 2:23) and He Himself said, “Abraham My friend” (Isa. 41:8, New King James Version).

Being undeniably the best friend Abraham ever had, God fulfilled His promises to him. He provided for him and his wife when they were in dire need – when there was famine in the land, He blessed them (Gen. 22:3, 10-20, Ibid.) Eventually, he was made a great nation.

But most important, he and his faithful descendants, breathed their last with a hope in the promised “heavenly country,” and “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Heb. 11:16, Ibid.)

David: ‘A man after God’s own heart’
Another biblical figure who became intimately familiar with the friendship of God was David of Israel:

“He [God] testified concerning him: ‘I have found David … a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do’.” (Acts 13:22, NIV)

David, who was a fugitive because of severe persecution by a king, firmly placed his complete trust and hope in God:

“When I look beside me, I see that there is no one to help me, no one to protect me. No one cares for me. LORD, I cry to you for help; you, LORD are my protector; You are all I want in this life.

“I call to the LORD for help; I plead with him. I bring him all my complaints; I tell him all my troubles. When I am ready to give up, he knows what I should do.” (Ps. 142:4-5, 1-3, TEV)

David grieved bitterly, yet did not lose hope. He approached God through fervent prayers and God helped him. He raised him up. Eventually, this once lowly shepherd was willed by Him to replace the very king who wronged him.

Paul, the steadfast Christian
Apostle Paul was imprisoned because of his preaching. In that situation, he could no longer expect help from anyone. But God did not forsake Him. Paul says:

“At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. … But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength … And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” (II Tim. 4:16-17, NIV)

He further declared his conviction and clearly defined what he set his sight on:

“The LORD will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. …” (II Tim. 4:18, Ibid.)

Hence, God’s friends place their complete hope and trust in the One who is different from those whom the people of the world usually seek out and rely upon for help. They have the love and friendship of God.

Becoming God’s friends, too
How can we become God’s friends, too? Apostle Paul says:

“But now, by means of the physical death of his Son, God has made you his friends, in order to bring you, holy, pure, and faultless, into his presence.” (Col. 1:22, TEV, emphasis ours)

Apostle Paul explains further:

“But God has shown how much he loves us – it was while we were sinners that Christ died for us! … We were God’s enemies, but he made us his friends through the death of his Son.” (Rom. 5:8, 10, Ibid., emphasis ours)

Apostle Paul explains that “Christ loved the church and gave his life for it” (Eph. 5:25, Ibid.). It is therefore imperative for us to know for whom Christ died, who did He purchased or redeem with His shed blood. Apostle Paul specifies that it is “the church of Christ which he [Christ] has purchased with his blood” (Acts 20:28. Lamsa Translation).

The members of the Church of Christ are the ones for whom Christ died. Therefore, they were “brought near [to God] through the shedding of Christ’s blood” (Eph. 2:13, New English Bible). They were cleansed or forgiven of their sins (Heb. 9:14; Eph. 1:7), and hence, became God’s friends.

God’s friends are also Christ’s
Moreover, how can we be among Christ’s friends? The Lord Jesus Christ says:

“You are my friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:14, NKJV)

One of His commandments is clearly stated in John 10:9:

“I am the door; anyone who comes into the fold through me will be safe. …” (Revised English Bible)

Being “the door,” Christ commands us to come into the fold or to “enter by Him” (NKJV) for us to be saved. The fold or flock being referred to is the Church of Christ (Acts 20:28, Lamsa Translation). The members, therefore, of this Church are God’s friends in the Christian era. They are the ones referred to by Apostle Paul when he said, “He [God] made us his friends through the death of His Son” (Rom. 5:10, TEV).

Those who obey Christ, because they are now God’s friends, are assured that their prayers will be granted (John 15:16).

Reciprocating God’s love
Let us also remember that the relationship between two true friends is a “two-way street”. Love must be reciprocated with love. Selfishness has no room in true friendships. Even in our relationship with God, it is evil to be but receivers of good things from Him without reciprocating Him with obedience, with things that glorify Him. God says, “Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will make him great because he trusts in my name” (Ps. 91:14, LB).

God reasonably demands of us loyalty, fidelity, trust, holy fear, and genuine love, which are proven by our obedience to His will. If we have these distinguishing characteristics and we belong to the Church that was redeemed by Christ through His blood, then we are truly friends of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ. These promises will also be for us:

“The righteous call to the LORD, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who are discouraged; he saves those who have lost all hope. The good man suffers many troubles, but the LORD saves him from them all; the LORD preserves him completely …” (Ps. 34:17-20, TEV)

We can also hope for the Lord Jesus Christ’s promise that on that great day we will see Him:

“… Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” (John 16:22, NIV)