A couple of months ago, Thomas Nelson Bibles officially announced that beginning this month, we would begin offering a Lifetime Guarantee on all of our Bibles. Regardless of its binding, if a Bible fails due to manufacturing defects, customers may return it for a free replacement. If the same Bible is no longer available, it will be replaced with a Bible of the same or greater value. This guarantee applies to both English and Spanish versions as well as adult and children’s titles. You can check out the full details here: http://www.nelsonbibles.com/guarantee.
Shortly after sending out the announcement, our publicist received an email from a pastor in Georgia who found the information to be “thought provoking.” Although he realized that we were addressing the binding of our bibles, he couldn’t resist having a literal first impression.
In his email he mentioned that he got to thinking . . .
“Does the Lifetime Guarantee, guarantee the Bible promises? If, after passing, can the guarantee be passed on to one’s survivors if it has not been all used up in the wear and tear of using it to live one’s life by?”
He even mentioned that he would be sharing his thoughts and reactions in his next sermon.
Now the subject of promises is brought up numerous times in the Bible.
“They are, after all, Israelites who have been placed into God’s family; the glory, the covenants, the gift of the law, the temple-service, and God’s promises are their rightful heritage.”
– Romans 9:4 (The Voice)
“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
- 2 Peter 1:2-6 (New King James Version)
“I tell you that Christ became a servant of the Jews to show that God’s promises to the Jewish ancestors are true.” – Romans 15:8 (New Century Version)
So when asked if the promises of the Bible are guaranteed, if you believe what the Bible says the answer is a resounding “Yes!” I’m not a betting man, but if I were I’d go “all in” on this one.
And if we’re constantly striving to “walk the walk” and follow Christ, I’d hope that our spiritual legacy will pass onto our survivors. That the promises we’ve found in Christ will be evident and that our loved ones will go to the Lord who is awaiting them with loving arms.
It’s amazing to me to hear how God inspires each and every one of us. Never would we have anticipated that our press release would lead to a Sunday sermon, but it did.
In today’s busy society we often don’t take the time to be still. Every day Christ is speaking to us, and if we’re truly listening, His voice comes from everywhere and everything. So today I’m taking time to listen, and I’m excited to see how He will choose to speak to me.
So, are you listening for Him? What is Christ saying to you?
