We recently had the opportunity (if you want to call it that) to look for a ‘new-to-me vehicle’. It became necessary because the transmission in our 12-year-old car started to fail. For many reasons we decided to replace the vehicle rather than fix it. So we were thrown into the not always so pleasant process of purchasing another vehicle. One common item that we saw throughout this process (because of the vehicles we were looking at) is a statement in the window that said, “As Is – No Warranty.”
Now we all know what this statement means. It’s pretty simple really. ‘As Is – No Warranty’ means that there are no promises from the dealer to correct, fix, or otherwise repair any defects that the vehicle may have. You, as the buyer, assume all responsibility for the vehicle. I never did like that statement…As Is. It seems so calloused, so cold. It implies that nothing will be done when problems are encountered. And, let’s face it, when a pre-owned vehicle is in question there’s going to be issues.
As I pondered the meaning of what we were getting ourselves into…God started to impress something on my heart. As Is… It leaves you solely responsible for everything. You’re alone and on the hook for any problem, issue, concern, or anything else that may creep in. The cost of any repairs necessary is placed squarely on the shoulders of the buyer. No one else will come running to your rescue. It’s ‘As Is’ – just how you purchased it. Now…for an extra cost you can purchase an extended warranty. This will cover the vehicle for defects, issues, or whatever – of course depending on the warranty you purchase. The more you want covered…the more the warranty costs.
In life there are always issues, concerns, hardships and problems that crowd in. Sometimes it seems that just when one problem is corrected another issue surfaces. We were never promised a life without troubles though. Jesus told us just the opposite. “…In this world you will have trouble…(John 16:33).” Skeptics would call that an ‘As Is – No Warranty’ statement. No warranties of any kind are implied. The world we live in is going to bring about trouble, trials, and tribulation; and you’re on your own when facing all of them. Any solutions needed are up to you to find and implement. No one is going to help you out. Anyone left alone to face a trial or hardship can tell you that the one thing they would have liked is some help in the middle of it. If we listen to the skeptics they would continue to tell us that it’s just how the world is. We will always be on our own. “It’s you against the world,” they declare. “You might as well just deal with it.”
As Is – No Warranty.
The problem with this is the skeptics never read the last part of that verse. Jesus may have stated that we’re going to have trouble…but He never implied that He would leave us alone to face it. Look at the rest of that verse. “…But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)” Jesus never stated that we would be alone. He says that there’s trouble coming…but that we don’t have to face it alone. It’s declared all throughout the Scriptures that we’re not by ourselves.
• Deuteronomy 31:6 states that God will not leave us.
• Psalm 23 declares that we will never be in want.
• John 14:27 promises that Jesus will give us His peace.
These are just a few of the many statements that we’re not on our own in life. Life in Christ comes with an irrevocable statement from the Creator of the Universe that we will never be alone. Nothing more is needed. No extended warranties are necessary. All of the benefits of the new life in Christ are available the moment we ‘sign the deal’. In the used car world we will have to deal with As Is – No Warranty…but that’s never the case with life in Christ.
Really good Jeff, so needed in today’s world. We will have problems, but thank God we’re not alone in solving them. Good word!