No Risk Guarantee
How many times has it happened... a late night infomercial grabs your attention. The product seems as if it can save the world. Or at least prevent it from falling apart - especially if it's 'Flex tape'! Flex tape is the powerful sticky adhesive that can even hold the two halves of a split-in-two speed boat together - all with a few strips of goo! As the founder Phil Swift puts it, 'it's the super strong, rubberized, waterproof adhesive that instantly bonds, seals and repairs virtually everything! ... EVEN UNDERWATER!‘ His enthusiasm and energy is contagious. Especially when he pops back on the screen, doubles the offer (if you order now), and then to seal the deal, presents one of the powerful tools in marketing - the no risk guarantee. Sold!
According to Entrepreneur magazine, the origins of the no risk guarantee can actually be traced all the way back to 1868 when door-to-door salesman J.R. Watkins offered customers a full refund of the purchase price on his home-cooked natural remedies if they didn’t like the product. According to historical sources, Watkins offered the guarantee to combat the fact that his product was totally unknown in the marketplace.
What thousands of other businesses have since discovered (along with Watkins, presumably) is that the no risk guarantee reduces the perceived danger of making a buying mistake, but is rarely ever invoked by customers. Even if some customer do request the guarantee, it’s usually outweighed by the enormous amount of sales it creates. With less risk, people are more likely to buy - plain and simple.
However, most guarantees come with conditions. You have the 30 day guarantee, the must use the product 36 times to get your money back guarantee, the ‘pay for shipping it back’, etc., etc. Most guarantees offer some risk protection, but when you read between the lines, rarely are they completely unconditional offering full protection.
Full protection from risk or harm is unheard of in almost every walk of life besides one - being a sheep of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus isn't marketing a product. Jesus promises without risk, to be your Shepherd King and Savior. He guarantees to fully care for and protect you as His sheep, unconditionally, regardless of the circumstances.
The bible constantly compares humans with sheep, and God to the Shepherd King of His people. I love the Westminster Shorter Catechism, Questions 26: How does Christ execute the office of a King? The Answer: Christ executes the office of a King, in subduing us to Himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all His and our enemies. This is what a true shepherd does for his sheep.
Jesus does it all for us guaranteed, unconditionally in many ways:
Sheep are helpless animals that need protection. Jesus protects us unconditionally.
Sheep are often smelly. We're smelly with sin and we cannot clean ourselves nor our offenses. Jesus covers us and forgives us unconditionally.
Sheep need the shepherd to rule and guide them. Jesus does this for us exclusively.
Why can Jesus guarantee this? Because His blood is the full satisfactory payment for our sins. In John chapter 10, Jesus refers to Himself as the Good Shepherd. But in the first 6 verses, which we will cover tomorrow, He refers to Himself as the gate (or door) for the sheep. All who enter through it are guaranteed 100% protection from those who want to do them harm. No Ifs, Ands or Buts about it.
John mentions the word 'voice(s)' several times in these verses. There are only two types - the voice of those who try to lead the sheep astray and Jesus' voice. Those that hear His voice are His true sheep that will never be lost or uncared for. Jesus promises to always, forever and unconditionally protect, care for you and love you, regardless of the circumstances. How amazing is His love!
But there is an inherent problem despite His amazing love - we’re still sheep! But Jesus is always faithful and never fails even the weakest of His sheep. Tomorrow, we'll look at the Lord Jesus' guaranteed protection for those who can hear His voice, verses the various types of 'thieves and robber' who desire to lead the sheep astray. Read the entire tenth chapter of John if you can, but tomorrow we'll zero in on the first 6 verses.
Regardless of how vulnerable and dark things may seem for even a lost sheep, because of the promises of Christ in this passage, that sheep can rest knowing they have the guaranteed protection of the Great Shepherd. This is our promise from Him as Christians.
