"...even if you don't ever die."

I heard an interesting commercial on a satellite radio station while on the road this past week. Commercials on satellite stations seem to have a fairly narrow window of advertisers, many in the financial industry, or at least so it seems to me.

The particular commercial that got my attention was about life insurance, and of course, how this particular company could save the insured lots of money, while providing generously for his or her family. Sounds like a good idea, but near the end of the commercial, a claim was made that caught my attention and strained the limits of truth in advertising. The announcer said, "...we have some term policies that build cash value that you can cash in, even if you don't ever die." "...even if you don't ever die..." I wondered if I heard that right, or perhaps had missed something along the way, but it was later confirmed that indeed I had heard it right.

Perhaps this company knows something that I do not, but I have always labored under the assumption that death comes to us all. Hasn't it been said that death and taxes are the two things we cannot avoid? The certainty of death is chronicled in Hebrews 9:27, as the writer proclaims, "... people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment..." Perhaps that wasn't the encouraging word you hoped for...perhaps you want to find out more about the perspective of the particular insurance company in the radio ad. Before you get too nervous, let's finish the thought of the writer of Hebrews who continues in verse 28, "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him."

From the perspective of faith in Jesus Christ, there is the possibility of escaping death, but only if Jesus returns during our lifetime. There are currently a few "followers" who believe this will happen in May of 2011, information they seem to have that Jesus said even he did not possess. Whether Jesus returns in May or a thousand years from now, death is not a threat to those who believe Jesus to be the resurrection and the life. In Him I can claim the promise of His word as he said, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die." (John 11:25-26)

Life is eternal, not because of the claims of an insurance company, but by faith in the living Christ. It is good to adequately prepare financially for your family in the event of your death, but the greater preparation is made in knowing Christ and living in hope because of that relationship. When you write out that check to your insurance company this month or this quarter, give thanks that you can provide for your loved ones, but better still, thank God for a greater hope and provision through Jesus Christ.