Insurance and assurance are not the same thing
ONE of our favourite restaurants when we lived in Coventry was the Thatched Cottage based in Dunchurch.
They were renowned for their steaks, especially their fillet steak, you could guarantee a mouthwatering tender steak, expensive, but for those special occasions a definite place to visit.
Just 100 yards away is a lovely old thatched cottage and there displayed along its soffits are a number of insurance plaques, these fire insurance marks are metal plaques marked with the emblem of the insurance company which were affixed to the front of insured buildings as a guide to the insurance company’s fire brigade.
These identification marks were used in the eighteenth and nineteenth century in the days before municipal fire services were formed. The UK marks are called ‘Fire insurance plaques.’
Generally, it was those people with money and influence who could afford to have their properties protected by the insurance companies fire service.
If we look up in a dictionary, the word Insurance it refers to means of guaranteeing protection of an object or a person, or a guarantee against loss or damage.
There is often confusion between the words INSURANCE and ASSURANCE.
Insurance policy refers to protection against an event that might happen, such as a fire to that lovely thatched cottage in Dunchurch, whereas assurance policy refers to protection against an event that will happen.
We have just celebrated Easter and unfortunately many associate this time of the year with chocolate Easter eggs and hot cross buns and sadly the true meaning of Easter is lost.
Crucifixion was an agonising cruel way to die, Jesus was totally innocent, yet he died to take away our sins and that through believing in Him we may have eternal life. At the age of 16 I came to that point in my life to recognise that I needed Jesus in my life, to realise that Jesus actually died for me, I accepted him as my Lord and Saviour. This was without doubt the finest decision I have ever made.
A prolific hymn writer in the 19 century was a lady called Fanny Crosby and she wrote a hymn called Blessed Assurance; this hymn is sung regularly in our churches today. She is actually one of the most influential, well known, hymn writers in history.
The text of the Hymn is about the love and assurance we have in Jesus the saviour. Please note the word ASSURANCE and as a Christian I can echo the words of the first verse of this famous hymn. Blessed assurance Jesus is Mine; Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His spirit, washed in His blood
I certainly don’t know when I will die, but what I can definitely say without any fear and contradiction is that I have total confidence that when this day occurs, I will go to be with my Lord and Saviour. As you read this Question of Faith can you say with total confidence that comes your final breath and like me you don’t know the day or time, those life changing words Blessed assurance Jesus is mine?
God bless you