Is salvation an insurance policy for the afterlife? Is it common for us to think that "doing our time worshipping God" is like making payments for an insurance policy into heaven?
There are some similarities between the two. Both contain promises of security for the future. However, the similarities end here. An insurance policy does not change how you live or make demands upon your life; Christ does. There is a vast difference between the consumerism of purchasing insurance and living the life of a disciple who knows that an inheritance has been prepared for him. If someone were to approach Jesus and serving God with the same mentality as he or she might purchase an insurance policy, that individual would have thoroughly distorted what it means to serve God.
Consider the world of consumerism. With consumerism, the shopper is king. To feed her children, a young mother went to the store to purchase some food. To protect his family in the event of an untimely death, a new husband sat down with an insurance agent. Have a need? Find the right product. Consumerism involves purchasing items or services to fill a real need or at least a perceived one. With purchasing power in pocket, the shopper peruses the promises of each packaged product to fulfill every whim and desire.
Taken to its extreme, consumerism might lead a person to think that all of life can be handled through acquisitions. If a person were to make the false assumption that security and well-being can be fully satisfied by this world, a meaningless quest will have been launched leading that individual down the never ending road of the idolatry of greed and devotion to the things of this world.
In stark contrast to consumerism, salvation is not merely another product on the shelf which can be dropped into our shopping cart as we meander down the aisle. Salvation is more than an insurance policy because to receive salvation in Christ is to also be called to live a life worthy of Christ and the gospel.. On the one hand, salvation is a free gift from God (we can not merit or purchase it), on the other it is bestowed upon those in God's community whose lives are to be transformed by discipleship. Prior allegiances are to be changed as the kingly robe of me-in-control is passed over to the Lord that he might rule one's life. Goals are to be reoriented as pursuing righteousness replaces fleshly fed pursuits. Our base of security is to shift from this world to God's activity and His promises.
Salvation is not a product which leaves us alone until some future glorious day; it reshapes everything about my life now. Eternal life is not merely heavenly insurance which can be added on to my life as another product to serve me. Salvation is God's gift into a radically altered lifestyle called discipleship where the blessings of eternal life are enjoyed.
Barry Newton, Copyright © 2001, 2004 (revised)
Scriptures for further reflection:
Matthew 6:24
Luke 9:23-27
Luke 14:25-35
Colossians 3:5; Ephesians 5:5
Other articles which may be of interest:
Making the Most of Our Time (Knowing what the goal should be)