Oceans in the Desert

I had a vivid but unusual dream last night. In the dream I was seeking to find an insurance policy that would cover my “faith”. I knew that my life was at a high risk point regarding what I was stepping into and wanted insurance in case something happened and we were left with losses. Suddenly a package arrived for me and I opened it; as soon as I held it in my hands I knew that it had sent from Jesus. When I opened it I found that it contained a scroll or rolled up document. As I unrolled it I saw writing on the header of this document that said, “Assurance Policy” It was an not an insurance policy but an assurance policy that gave me a written guarantee that my faith was being covered by His declaration of promised provision. I took it out and signed it before waking up. 

What an amazing dream! I was seeking “insurance” (a guaranteed compensation of loss) and He gave me “assurance” (a positive declaration intended to give confidence; a promise.). 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1

The Greek word for assurance can be translated to mean “concrete”. It is the foundation or concrete proof of something we can stand upon. Therefore this “Assurance Policy” was my concrete proof or promise that there will not be a need for an insurance policy that compensates for loss. What a “blessed assurance” this dream was to me! 

Often, our view of loss and God’s view of loss differ. I was speaking to a group of young adults this week about the subject of God’s faithfulness and asked them if their definition of His faithfulness was based on what they think the outcome of a particular matter should look like. I gave the example of someone praying for a loved one who is ill and ends up dying. I asked them if the faithfulness of God remains true in the midst of what we would see as a great loss. They determined that, “Yes!” His faithfulness remains sure even when we don’t understand. 

I share this not to dampen the word of “assurance” but to break off of many the restraints and strongholds of disappointment that have come through defining His faithfulness by a particular outcome that may have measured His faithfulness. Let us declare and determine (over our past, our present and our future) that is faithfulness is immeasurable, irrevocable and irrefutable! 

“Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.” Psalm 119:90

Our faith is bound and secured by His faithfulness. His faithfulness is our “assurance policy” in the midst of all that we face and all that we experience. There are no losses with Christ because in Him there is eternal and immeasurable reward. He is worth every risk, every act of faith, every “Yes” spoken, every sacrifice made and every life lived fully unto Him. 

We do not need an insurance policy to back up our faith…we have been given  a “assurance policy” that declares a promise of His faithfulness from generation to generation. 

“God will repay each person according to what they have done.” Romans 2:6

We will receive a great and eternal reward for not holding back but giving our all. There are no losses…

“Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33

I will end with the first stanza from the song, “Blessed Assurance”, 

“A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great.” Proverbs 18:16