The initial and primary motive drawing me to Christ was “fire insurance.” When the reality of hell and judgement sunk in, I quickly began taking Jesus seriously. If we are honest, this motivation is a driving factor in most of our conversion experiences. I call it the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” effect. Self-preservation and avoiding eternal punishment are valid and Biblical reasons to seek Jesus. However, they are elementary truths. If we simply place our faith in Jesus as only a means of escaping torment, then we have stunted faith. We have understood the facts of faith without progressing to the fulness of faith.

Having a fire insurance salvation will cause us to live clinically. Placing a tick box next to salvation puts Jesus as a completed item on our to do list. Continuing to view our salvation through only this dimension is quite sad, as it means we have only discovered one aspect of the greater mystery that is our new life in the gospel. Fire insurance salvation is designed as the first step on a journey of getting to know this incredible, self-sacrificing saviour who voluntarily gave his life in our place. As we do this, the foundation of our faith transforms from fire insurance to a love story for the greatest giver of all.

Having a love story salvation will cause us to live generously. It transforms our behaviour and thinking. It creates a deeper appreciation and desire for Jesus and others. A love story salvation fosters a stronger satisfaction with life and a greater longing for life beyond the grave.

The older I get, the more my faith grows towards a love story salvation. The reality of fire insurance salvation is still true, but it fades into the background in the face of our loving Jesus.

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About Jeremy Crooks

Jeremy grew up in Sydney Australia. He has tertiary qualifications in business, training, and Bible. With experience in both church ministry and corporate human resources, Jeremy has a strong interest in how faith is demonstrated in our homes and workplaces. You can contact Jeremy at jeremy@jasonharris.com.au.

2 Comments

  1. JM 3 February, 2012 at 4:17 pm - Reply

    Interesting to have it as a fire-insurance analogy. That’s how I thought before, but praise be to God that he has shown me he’s not the insurance salesman, but he’s the fireman that saves me from the burning building!

    Big difference the way you’d view an insurance salesman to someone who’s saved your life!

  2. Jeremy 4 February, 2012 at 6:39 am - Reply

    Good illustration JM. One view is a transaction and the other is a deeper relationship.

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