God's Insurance Policy

Television commercials often say much about our society and about our mentality as a people. The advertisers study our every move and thought so know how to trigger our lusts for things, for feelings, for emotions, and for dreams. They know how to motivate us.

In a series of recent commercials, insurance companies have been trying to build their businesses by giving discounts or kickbacks to safe drivers. Nationwide is currently running a set of commercials stating they will knock a $100 off of the deductible for a year of save driving. Allstate commercials show someone getting a check for a year without incident. Other insurance agencies have similar programs. The idea behind each program is that if you behave well and don’t get into any trouble while driving during the year then you will be rewarded for it. The biggest benefit is to the company who saves thousands by not having to pay for automotive repair or damages from an accident to property or persons. The reward is the one who is “good.” This only makes sense to our minds.

However, God’s ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8,9). In His love and mercy for man, His “reward” system isn’t about us being perfect or not making mistakes. Instead, His system is built on His grace. Oh, we must change our lives when we obey the gospel and strive to grow into spiritual maturity, but we aren’t going to be perfect. We will stumble from time to time and when we do, when we repent of that sin, God forgives us (1 John 1:5-9).

Before we obeyed the gospel, we were dead in trespasses and sins, we once walked after the sinful ways of the world in disobedience, and we conducted ourselves after the lusts of the flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and the mind, putting us in a lost condition with God (Ephesians 2:1-3). But there is good news, and has nothing to do with what I save on my car insurance.

I need to get into a covenant relationship with God, or if you will allow the analogy, I need to become a policy holder of God’s plan. I must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, repent of sin, confess Him as Lord and Master of my life, and be baptized into Christ for the remission of sins. Once in this relationship, I have the blessing of being forgiven, even when I stumble from time to time.

“God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (By grave you have been saved)… For by grace you have been saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:4,5,8).

Did you notice the difference? God doesn’t forgive us our debt when we are perfect in our record for a year. He forgives us even when we are not perfect. We could not be “good enough” to be saved based on merit. We can never be incident free long enough to get debt forgiveness. We need the grace of God (unmerited favor) to save us from our sins. But when we repent of that sin, God is faithful and just and will forgive us of that sin (1 John 1:7-9).

Unlike the insurance company that keeps a record of our past mistakes and makes adjustments to our premiums, God forgets our past mistakes. Hebrews 8:12 tells us that in His mercy, God forgives our unrighteousness, sins and lawless deed and remembers them no more. He blots out our sins and remembers them no more (Isaiah 43:25).

Even if our spiritual “cars” (lives) have been wrecked and damaged and torn, God can restore us to a new, clean, show room fresh condition. Step one, get a policy: obey the gospel of Christ (Acts 22:16). Step two, as you live the Christian life, and are dinged up (though you strive for a great life in Christ), it isn’t the end of the world. Pray to God and ask for forgiveness and God will restore your soul.

 

Bound for the Promised Land

The words of Samuel Stennett’s “I Am Bound for the Promised Land” both encourage and challenge the Christian.

 

• On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand, and cast a wishful eye, to Canaan’s fair and happy land, where my possessions lie. 
• O’er all those wide-extended plains shines one eternal day, there God the Son forever reigns and scatters night away. 
• When shall I reach that happy place, and be forever blest? When shall I see the Father’s face, and in His bosom rest? 
• I am bound for the promised land, I am bound for the promised land; O who will come and go with me? I am bound for the promised land.

 

The beautiful song inspires us to look for the coming of Christ and our eternal reward with longing. We are pressing toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). We are looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).  

 

We are looking for the prize of heaven because our treasures are there (Matthew 6:19,20). Our Savior is reigning there (Acts 2:33,36; Philippians 2:10,11). Our Father is there and He will give us rest and will end our sadness and pain (Hebrews 4:9,11; Revelation 21:3,4). We are longing for the “one eternal day” where those who are faithful will receive entrance into the promised land of heaven (John 5:28,29). 

 

The words of Samuel Stennett also challenge us to faithful living and to evangelism. 

 

One can believe he is bound for the promised land and be sadly mistaken. Christ Jesus, during the Sermon on the Mount, proclaimed a powerful warning to those who would claim to be followers of God:  

 

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matthew 6:21-23).

 

The one who has not been obedient to the will of God will not have a reward in heaven, but a place of punishment that will not end (Matthew 25:12,30,41,46).

 

In order to receive the reward of eternal life we must be faithful until death to receive the crown of life (Revelation 2:10). Paul assured Timothy that all who fight the good fight of faith, those who stay the course, finishing the race, and those who keep the faith (three ways to describe the same steadfast character of the believer; the one who loved Christ’s appearing) will receive the crown of righteousness on that glorious day, when Christ will judge the world through His word (2 Timothy 4:6-8; John 12:48; Revelation 20:12,15; 21:27). The faithful, one whose name is written in the Book of Life, can enter into the judgment with confidence.

 

A second challenge in the words of Samuel Stennett is found in the final two sentences of the poem: “O who will come and go with me?” If we truly love God and love the souls of men, we will desire to tell them about Jesus Christ and the redeeming blood that was shed upon the cross (Matthew 22:36-40). Jesus came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). As soldiers in His army, we have the same mission (2 Timothy 2:2,4; Mark 16:15,16). “He who wins souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Let us like Andrew declare, “We have found the Messiah” and like Philip encourage others to “Come and see” (John 1:41,46).

 

Every Christian should shout from the roof tops, “I am bound for promised land” and beg “O who will come and go with me?” With wishful eyes, let us stand faithful, anticipating the return of the Lord. Oh how wonderful it will be to go Home! 

Early in the Morning

The Bible is filled with examples of those who rose early in the morning to do the will of the Lord: Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Hannah, Samuel, and David. There are also many who rose early in the morning to do evil, such as worship Baal or drinking intoxicating beverages. Jesus was taken from Caiaphas to the Praetorium during his unlawful trial, early in the morning. The ladies came to the tomb to see Jesus early in the morning. The apostles were preaching and teaching in the temples and synagogues early in the morning. There is much that can be done early in the morning, both good and bad. 

Christians are to follow the example of Christ (1 Peter 2:21). He set the example for us in how we should pray. He prayed at His baptism (Luke 3:21). He prayed before His arrest in the garden (Matthew 26:36). He prayed on the cross. He prayed in the evening (Matthew 14:23). He prayed with the little children (Matthew 19:13). He prayed on the mountain. He often prayed in the wilderness (Luke 5:16). He spent all night in prayer (Luke 6:12). He prayed alone. He prayed with the disciples. He prayed at His transfiguration (Luke 9:29). He prayed before meals. He prayed before selecting the apostles. He prayed for the disciples and all who would follow Him (John 17). Jesus spent much time in prayer.

Jesus also prayed early in the morning. In Mark 1:35, we read, “And in the morning, a great while before day, He rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed” (ASV). One of the reasons for this prayer was that He was going to be preaching the gospel (v.38,39).

Long before daylight, Jesus was deep in prayer to the Father. This demonstrates the importance of prayer in the life of Christ.

In our lives today, there are many things that we do early in the morning. We will get up early to get a head start on work. We will rise up early to go on vacation, hunting, fishing, shopping, or to a special event. If you are an early riser, you might get up early, read the paper, drink a pot of coffee and be out of the house before the sun comes up. Others may be night owls and stay up late at night to carry out the same goals. The point is that there are certain things in life that motivate us to either get up early in the morning or stay up late at night. When we are motivated to use our time in a special way, we will do whatever it takes to accomplish our goals.

There is a lesson to learn from the great example of Christ in getting up early, long before daylight. Brethren, if we love God and look forward to the day of work and service to the Lord, we will take time out of each day to go to God in prayer. In our world today, many call this “quiet time.” Let us use our quiet time with God effectively.

First, find a place where you can be alone with God. Jesus found places where He could be alone with the Father: on a mountain, in the wilderness, and in the garden. The distractions of the world can keep us from the deep expression of love, heartfelt repentance, and the comfort of God when we cast our cares on our caring Father. Turn off the television, log off the internet, turn off the telephone, and dedicate some time to the Lord. Early or late, take time for God.

Second, before making the difficult decisions in this life or when great burdens are upon you, go to the Father in prayer. Jesus prayed in the garden before His arrest, before selecting the apostles, before beginning His work on earth, and when His work was finished. Yet, today, it seems so many make their decisions and plan their lives without a thought about God and His will for our lives (James 4:13-16). Many stressful days lead to long sleepless nights. Open your heart in prayer to the Lord. He will bear your burdens.

Third, once you have prayed, get up and get to work for the Lord. Jesus, after His early morning of prayer, declared, “Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth.” Then Jesus went into the synagogues throughout all Galilee preaching the gospel (Mark 1:38,39). You have heard the saying, “Pray as though everything depends on God and work as though everything depends on you.” 

Pray to God and work with faith that God will hear and answer your prayers.