If you purchase a car, appliance, tool, or even a computer, chances are good that you are going to be offered an extended warranty – a guarantee that if something breaks, it will get fixed for free. A manufacturer’s warranty is already a part of the purchase, but it only lasts for a short time. The extended warranty guarantees that for several years after the purchase, you will still be protected.
For those who are buying tools, did you know that Craftsman, Kobalt, Milwaukee, Snap-on, and Matco offer lifetime warranties? Cutco, the maker of knives, offers a forever guarantee “that extends to knives given as gifts or hand-me-downs. The guarantee includes free sharpening to help extend the life of the knife — you just pay for shipping.
“We want every Cutco owner to be satisfied forever, and when the product is passed along, we will continue to back that pledge,” says the company’s website.
“If at any time you are not satisfied with the performance of your product, we will correct the problem or replace the product.”1
Now, don’t get too excited when you see the words “lifetime guarantee.” Carefully read the fine print. There are often stimulations and disclaimers attached. L.L. Bean had their legendary lifetime guarantee – until 2018 when it was abandoned due to abuse. “Increasingly, a small, but growing number of customers has been interpreting our guarantee well beyond its original intent,” L.L. Bean chairman Shawn Gorman said in a letter to customers Friday. “Some view it as a lifetime product replacement program, expecting refunds for heavily worn products used over many years. Others seek refunds for products that have been purchased through third parties, such as at yard sales.”2
And lifetime guarantees cut two ways. The guarantee is only good for as long as the original owner is alive or so long as the company making the guarantee is in business! If you or the company dies, so does the lifetime guarantee.
Better read all the fine print and disclaimers!
In Ephesians 1:12-14, we are told about another lifetime guarantee – a warranty, so to speak. “That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. (13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”
David Guzik, writing in the Enduring Word Commentary, says, “The word earnest (guarantee) is the word for a down payment. We have been given the Holy Spirit as a down payment for the fullness of what God will do. The Holy Spirit is a pledge of greater things to come. As Christians, God has purchased us on the lay-away plan and has given us an impressive down payment. He won’t walk away from the final payment because He has so much invested already.” The Holy Spirit is that “down payment” which guarantees the final redemption of our bodies and our entrance to Heaven one day.
Now, a guarantee is only as good as the guarantor. Anybody can promise you anything. Fulfilling that guarantee is a different story.
2 Corinthians 1:20-22 says, “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. (21) Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; (22) Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” The Godhead is represented. God made the promises, we were established by the Son and anointed by God. And the Holy Spirit seals us, guaranteeing that everything promised will happen. I would say that the guarantor of our salvation is very trustworthy, wouldn’t you? Therefore, there is no reason to doubt or fear.
No wonder Paul assuredly declared something that we can declare as well, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)
1https://www.thepennyhoarder.com/save-money/companies-with-lifetime-warranties/
2https://web.archive.org/web/20180210001439/https://finance.yahoo.com/news/l-l-bean-eliminates-legendary-154538962.html
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