God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out; His merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They are created new every morning. Great is thy faithfulness! Lamentations 3:22-23
A few years ago, Randy and I made a trip through Yellowstone National Park on our trek out west, and one attraction was at the top of our list – Old Faithful.
There are more than 300 geysers in Yellowstone National Park which accounts for approximately half the known geysers in the world. One of these geysers, however, stands above the others – not because it’s the largest and not because it’s waters reach the greatest heights, but it is by far the most popular.
Its popularity is due to one thing – it’s dependability or faithfulness. People stand in long lines under the hot sun to see it because, according to a precise schedule, it shoots a stream of boiling water more than 120 feet into the air. You can almost set your watch by it. According to an old prospector who traveled the region with Native Americans in the 1800’s, the geyser was given that name because it is regular in its eruptions. That’s why it’s called Old Faithful. People are attracted to faithfulness.
Faithfulness is defined as the quality of being steadfast, loyal, and consistently dependable, in relationships, duties, or obligations. It implies an unwavering adherence to promises, vows, or truth.
Faithfulness requires making 100 percent of your effort 100 percent of the time. The Bible is full of those who showed unwavering faithfulness to God and to His promises. Ruth showed unwavering faithfulness to her mother in law and followed her to a new land. Noah’s faithfulness was shown during the building of the ark. Daniel stayed faithful even in the Lion’s Den and refused to stop praying.
We see faithfulness put to the test in this world of ours today. Right now, we are in the midst of a mid term election, and citizens are desperate for politicians who will carry out all of their campaign promises. Anything less than that will never be good enough because it reflects their failure to be totally faithful and completely dependable.
Faithfulness requires several things of us. First, we must be loyal and committed to God. We have to keep His covenants, and act in line with His word no matter how difficult it may seem at the time.
Next, we must be faithful in the small things in life. Faithfulness in the little things is how dependability begins, grows, and matures. Rev. James Merritt tells this story: “The other day, I asked my beautiful wife if she married me for my looks?” She replied, “No, I married you for your brains – it’s the small things that matter.” Longfellow once wrote, “Most people would succeed in small things if they weren’t troubled with great ambition.”
Finally, we must show perseverance in turning menial jobs into vitally important ones. Even though we weren’t all born with the same talents, each of us are gifted in some way. Every one of us are born with an equal responsibility to utilize his or her abilities at full capacity.
Years ago when the U.S. Marine Corp was first formed, officials gave considerable time to contemplating a fitting motto. They finally chose the Latin phrase semper fidelis, a phrase now engraved on the mind of every Marine. The phrase means Always Faithful. Just like the Marines, we must always be faithful to God regardless of the cost.
Just like Old Faithful, God wants to be able to count on each of us to be dependable and faithful. He deserves only our best!
Great Is Thy Faithfulness was written in 1923 by Thomas O. Chisholm, a former Methodist minister. Despite poor health and financial difficulties, he wrote the hymn as a personal testimony to God’s daily steady faithfulness.
Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee. Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not. As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be. Great is thy faithfulness, Great is thy faithfulness, Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.