There are those who believe the Church prevents them from eternal damnation and there is some truth in this belief. A sincere adherence to the doctrinal tenets of the Bible will save those who follow its teaching. However, there must be sincerity in that belief system. We shouldn’t attend Church to get a get-out-of-jail-free card. We must develop a sincere relationship with Jesus, not for the purpose of taking out a Fire Insurance policy, but because we truly love hIm and desire to spend eternity with Him.

Luke 16 talks about an unnamed rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. Lazarus was laid at the rich man’s gates and plagued with sores, and his desire was to be fed from the rich man’s table. Time took its toll on them and they both died. Here is where finality ends and eternity begins.

Luke continues to say that the rich man in hell lifted up his eyes while being tormented in flames. Fire is a reality to those who do not accept Jesus as Savior. This is where the idea of taking out a “Fire Insurance policy” to protect them from the eternal fire of hades comes from. The policy is not a relationship with Christ, but it is the hope of not experiencing the eternal fire of hell forever. If we develop a relationship with Jesus, that alone will save us.