Money isn’t everything. We also have credit cards, debit cards, bank cards, Apple Pay, money orders, travelers’ cheques and personal cheques. Ha! Do you remember cheques? I loved the thrill of opening a birthday card and discovering a crisp white slip of paper nestled inside, with my name on it, signed by Grandpa or Grandma. It was a promise, an iron-clad guarantee that cash awaited me at the bank. All I had to do was sign my name and accept the money. But who uses cheques anymore?
Well, more people than you think. Writing cheques may be less popular than it once was, but 54% of Americans still wrote a cheque in the past year, according to the banks. And 87% of Millennials are still cashing cheques from their parents. I’m kidding, but 23% of Gen Xers report still using cheques on a monthly basis. And over 30 million North Americans wrote cheques last year, totaling well over $30 trillion.
But cheques are clunky, you say. Why doesn’t grandma just send cash? Plus, if I misplace one, and find it months or even years later, is it still any good?
Well, on average, a bank won’t accept a cheque that’s older than six months. You can give it a try, but you’ll likely have to call Grandma and beg her to write a replacement. The reasoning is simple: by then the account could be closed or have insufficient funds. The cheque may become rubbery, and bounce.
Is there a cheque that will never bounce? A promise that never goes out of date? Consider the enduring promises of God. I’m told that the Bible has 8,810 of them and that he promises to honour them.
Here are just 3 of them.
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- God will forgive us. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” We all make mistakes and struggle with sin, but the promise of God’s forgiveness offers hope and redemption. Acknowledge our sins and turn to God in repentance, He is faithful to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This promise is a testament to the boundless mercy and grace of our Heavenly Father, providing a path to healing and restoration for our weary souls.
- God will provide for us. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Few things cause more worry than finances, health, or the future. Yet God promises to meet all our needs. Not all our wants. Not without challenges. But we can trust him to provide what we really need, in his time and his way.
- God will be with us. Over and over he says so. And when Jesus bid a final goodbye to his disciples, he left their ears ringing with these beautiful words: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
As you go through your day today, remember these promises and let them sink deep into your heart. Know that God forgives us, provides for us and will be with us. These are promises we can bank on even when we’re living at a time when we pay $40 for the $20 haircut we used to get for $10 back when we still had hair.
