Have you made your claim?

The first thing we need to do is to establish what a claim is; Collins Concise Dictionary defines the word claim as:

1. (Verb) to demand as being due or as one's property; assert one's title or rights.

2. To assert as a fact: maintain against denial.

3. To call for or need; deserve.

4. (Noun) an assertion or a right; a demand for something as due.

5. An assertion of something as true, real, or factual.

6. A right or just title to something; basis for demand.

7. Anything that is claimed, such as a piece of land staked out by a miner.

8. (a) A demand for payment in connection with an insurance policy etc. (b) the sum of money demanded.

Let's take the case of an insurance policy. To make a claim against the policy: (a) you would have to be the holder of the policy or a beneficiary of the policy; (b) the policy would have to be current and all dues paid on time; (c) it would have to be a legitimate claim under the conditions outlined in the policy.

If all the criteria are met the claim will be paid out.

In February 2011 Cyclone Yasi, a huge category 5 cyclone, hit Mission Beach in North Queensland, Australia. Our home at Wongaling Beach was in the direct path of the cyclone. Fortunately, we were evacuated the night before the cyclone hit; due to the very real danger of a 7 metres high tidal surge prior to the cyclone crossing over land.

As I was due to have an operation in Brisbane the following week; we evacuated south to Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland;. We came home two weeks later. The house sustained only minor damage. The Australian Government was offering a free $2,000 financial grant to the inhabitants of the cyclone devastated areas. However, we had to make an official claim and our address details were verified before the claim was paid to us.

Why did I choose to tell you this story? We did not have any sort of policy with the Australian Government. We had no claim on them! It was an act of grace by the Australian Government to provide financial assistance to us. We received the $2,000 because; (a) we were eligible, (b) we made an actual official claim in the correct manner.

This is like God's offer of salvation. It is pure grace on God's part to offer: (a) His Son to die for our sins, (b) forgiveness of sins, (c) eternal life, (d) an eternal close relationship with God Himself.

The eligibility criteria are simple; you need to be a sinner and you have to make the claim for eternal salvation yourself. That's all there is to it - God does the rest!

Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

As soon as the Australian Government verified our claim and our eligibility they paid us the money.

God is far greater than any government; His salvation is eternal!

Have you made your claim?

Jon Peasey

Words of Life blog www.jrpeasey.blogspot.com

Ebooks author page https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/JRPeasey

[All Scriptures quoted are from the New King James version; unless otherwise noted. Word enclosed in [ ] are inserted for clarity. Words in bold type emphasise a point]

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