I started college in 1998. It was a magical time in my life. I watched Godzilla, Saving Private Ryan, and Armageddon at the cinema. Titanic won 11 Oscars (I don’t know…is that good?). Google was founded, and the Furby was everyone’s favorite demon-possessed toy pet.
But what made 1998 truly special was after late-night study sessions I discovered infomercials. Infomercials were an excellent source of entertainment for me and my friends. We couldn’t afford cable and streaming content hadn’t been invented yet. So, we enjoyed the actors and actresses messing up the simplest tasks in the most ludicrous ways possible. We even made a game of it. Just out of the blue one of us would yell “INFOMERCIAL” and everyone no matter what they were doing had to mess it up in the most ridiculous way possible.
For example, you would be studying with 3 books open on the table, and suddenly you forgot how to turn the page and all your books would end up on the floor or across the room somehow. Then we would judge who made the best infomercial with made up points that didn’t mean anything. As I said, we were bored, poor, college students. It was a magical time.
These infomercials made outlandish promises, always at the best possible price that was just too hard to pass up. This product would make your life so much better. All you had to do was send three easy payments of $19.99. You would go from messing up in black in white without the product to thriving with the product in full color. My favorite bizarre promise that stuck with me was when they would say this product comes with a “Lifetime Guarantee”.And at 2 am you find yourself eating your third bowl of cereal and whispering to yourself, “I didn’t know I needed a Snuggie until this very moment”.
But can you imagine that…a lifetime guarantee. They believe in this product so much they are willing to say that for the rest of your life you are going to be happy with this product. It reminds me of God and the love he has for us. He stamped it with a lifetime guarantee. There is a verse I heard once. You may have heard it before. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believes in him should not perish”—But wait there’s more — ”they would have everlasting life”.
I don’t know about you, but to me this is incredible. It puts my soul at ease. It means for the rest of my life God is going to love me no matter what. Guaranteed. He will do the same for you. No matter how much we comically mess up in black and white, we will be in heaven one day in glorious color living our best life under the cover of God’s love. All you have to do is confess your sins and believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins and rose from the dead. God’s love comes with a lifetime guarantee. Someone didn’t know they needed to hear this in their life until now. And you won’t have to wait, because you are not going to need any more than that.
Prescott Williamson is a Bible-believing Christian. He is a husband, a father, and someone who believes that there is a little humor to be found in whatever situation God sends your way. He was born in the small islands of the Bahamas but now lives in the Suburbs of Fort Worth Texas, which is basically the same thing. He enjoys TV, reading, blogging and serving in his church (especially on the days they serve donuts). You can see what I have been thinking about lately on my blog www.prescottascoolbreeze.com.
Oh my. I love this post on several different levels. I love that God loves us to the point of His death, to adopt me into His kingdom, call me His beloved daughter, to give me the faith that every day He will provide. The ability and privilege to talk to Him daily, and that He hears every word I say, keeps all of my tears in a bottle.
I love the college references. I have to say, mine were a bit different mostly pizza, cookie dough, and cheese and wine on Friday nights with my roommate. She got me addicted on banana fudge marshmallow malts…
Laughed several times. ‘Snuggies.’ Never thought that, but it’s ‘what did I miss??’ Infomercials. OH BOY. I bought a Ronco rottisserie. Still love it. Gave it to the kids. Got a professional one. Another time I bought old fashioned lanterns years ago that have yet to falter when I need light during the night or when the electricity goes out. Funny – born on an island in the Bahamas and now a lot like where you live in Texas. That absolutely cracks me up.
I am so glad you could relate to this post. Find some humor and gethe central meaning. God loves you and there’s nothing you can do about it. Be blessed
God’s faithfulness is what eventually wrecked me and saved my soul. I am in awe of how faithful He is to me. To think He will never give up on me is such a blessing! Thank you for this wonderful post!