Romans 8:27-29 English Standard Version

27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

This purpose is about those of us that are called. Purpose appears in the bible seventy-seven times. Each use has a different purpose.

What is our purpose? 

We like to understand our purpose in life because it will help us determine what steps we need to take to be successful. Since God called us to be conformed into the image of His Son, then there must be things we can do to achieve that purpose. That is God’s purpose not ours.

If we receive specific gifts, do they define our purpose or are they given to serve God’s purpose for our lives. What might clear up this issue is to understand that purpose does not equal will.

Purpose is an open ended course that does not necessarily end in God’s will

Romans 8:20-21 English Standard Version (ESV)

20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

His hope is for us to love Him because He loved us first. Love has to be a choice. His will is fixed and unchangeable, there is no choice in His will. There are choices in purpose.

We often seek purpose because it gives us a sense of security. Our security does not stem from our purpose, it is born of our relationship with God.

Hebrews 11:1 English Standard Version (ESV) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Assurance is not insurance.

With insurance we shop around for a carrier who offers the best coverage at a price we can afford. What is being covered is discussed and agreed upon. It might be a car, a boat, a house, or a bundle. But those don’t cover whole life which is a different policy.

If you want to leave your survivors debt free you will buy a million dollar policy and the premiums are steep. Not only steep but you have to qualify by taking a physical and if you don’t pass you will not be coveted. Then you are left with the option of a burial policy which will only offset  some funeral costs. $10,000 coverage does buy much these days, and if you die too soon after buying that policy you wont get full coverage.

Then there are the terms and conditions. Everything has limited liability because they are in it to take advantage of us. Flood insurance isn’t included.

Assurance of faith is different because Christ paid the price and full coverage is guaranteed instantly without terms and conditions. We are assured a place after death that is whole life, eternal life, absent of any penalty clauses. That life begins instantly.

Assurance of faith is based on God’s promises. They are His plan for us and the good news is that we are covered regardless of our condition. It would seem the worse the better. No one else but God would cover us, or could cover us, with these guarantees.

Here is the best part, we don’t have to wait for a disaster to reap the promises of assurance of faith, it starts paying off on those promises immediately without any limits.

And He covers floods at no extra cost.

So do you want insurance or assurance?