You Don’t Need A License to Sell This “Assurance’

Last week, the husband of my cousin was tragically killed in a truck accident just outside of Nashville. He had been laid off form his job the day before, and when my cousin called about his life insurance benefit, they said that he had been terminated just before his death.

A few days alter, one of my coworkers was on his way home form work, sitting at a traffic light, minding his own business, when a garbage truck struck him from behind, sending him though a guardrail, killing him instantly.

These incidents – as most deaths that hit close to home do – stir my thoughts toward evangelism. Both of these me left behind wives and children and family and friends who loved them. Yet, in both cases, I am left with something else – a question: did we do enough to insure their eternal life? Was there something we could have said or done to make sure that the first thing they see on that side of eternity is NOT weeping and gnashing of teeth, but of bliss, rest, and joy?

We see the value of life insurance every day. And, while I am no insurance salesman’s shill, I know it is one of the most selfless things one can do for their family. Yet, we overlook what happens on the other side of death. We are assured that all of us will face death, and after that, we face the judgment. That is a certainty. And, while salvation should never be looked at as a fire escape from hell, it should be looked at as an assurance, a promise, an earnest from God that He will keep us and deliver us into His eternal rest, if we are faithful. The promises Jesus made to the churches in the book of Revelation are contingent on faithfulness.

We can be “insurance poor” (like I am – lots of insurance, and the bills to prove it!) but can be in the worse state of spiritual bankruptcy: For what does it profit if a man gains the whole word, but loses his soul?

I don’t think it is unhealthy for us to occasionally take stock of our efforts to save souls. Where we ahve failed, we need to repent, and seek to do better. If there are methods and tools we need to use, or we need to stop using, we need to do so. And, if we haven’t been doing, we need to repent and do. One only succeeds greatly if they are willing to fail greatly. Yet, we are promised that faithfulness will reap in due season.

Paul told Timothy to “Preach the word. Be instant -  in season and out of season…” (2 Timothy 4:1- 2) Last I checked, its either in or out of season. So, we need to be ready to give an account at any time ( 1 Pete r 3:15). We need to study and prepare to be able, when needed, to make our presentation of, not life insurance, but “eternal life assurance”.

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