Satisfaction Guaranteed

     I love money back guarantees, especially at Costco where there is no argument, no shipping, no hassle. It is human nature to want a guarantee because it frees us from living with the consequences of a bad product. Unfortunately, we also want guarantees in our personal lives, our health, our finances, even our relationships. Humans crave guarantees because we crave control. That is why theories like man caused global warming are so popular despite lack of scientific evidence, it puts man back in the SUV driver's seat. Christians also crave control. That is why it is so tempting to believe the programs, systems and formulas that promise them. But think this through:

   If God wants all his children to be healthy, why did He promise Paul so much pain and suffering? One good beating can undo years of good diet and exercise. Why has God been glorified through so many sick and suffering saints?

   On a current health taboo, if gluten is bad for us, why did Christ tell us to pray for daily bread? Why did He use bread to symbolize his body in communion? Why did God accept grain offerings?

    If making a relationship desirable guaranteed a loved one would never stray, what did God do wrong with Adam? How did Jesus blow it with Judas? We can build strong marriages but we cannot make them divorce proof. We can raise children with biblical principles, but we cannot eradicate their sin nature.

   If God wants us to protect our possessions, why does Jesus tell us not to stockpile them? Why, in all his warnings to flee the impending destruction of Jerusalem, does he tell them to leave everything behind instead of send it ahead to a safe place? Maybe it's because He has already promised to take care of our daily needs.

   If God wants his children to be financially secure, why did He exempt the prophets (see Heb.11), and His own Son? Why did Jesus seek out the poor?

   If God does not want his children to suffer, why does he commend the refining quality of suffering so highly in scripture? Why have so many of his servants lived as outcasts and died as martyrs? God does not want us to suffer the preventable consequences of our own bad decisions, that is why He has given us so many instructions on how to make wise choices, but suffering because of our identification with Christ is considered a blessing. Even if it happens in America.

   I admit it bothers me that Christians who would never be gullible enough to believe the promises of wealth or luck in a chain letter, commend or share posts that promise to Alzheimer's proof your brain, cancer proof your body or ensure your loved ones' commitment to Christ. Such guarantees are not for this world and the pursuit of them is a sinful pursuit. Heaven is where we get the lifetime warranty. No arguments. No shipping. No hassle.