It’s long overdue, but I finally received it last week—the “Membership Agreement and Evidence of Coverage” for my new health plan. I enrolled in this new plan last year, which took effect at the beginning of this year. But it took all this time, and many communications requesting for it, before the document finally arrived.
I quickly browsed through the document to get a feel of what I can expect with regard to eligibility and benefits. In other words, I wanted to know the extent of coverage the plan had to offer. And I wasn’t expecting “full” coverage in everything and in every way. The plan in which I am enrolled isn’t the “top-of-the-line” plan. For that, monthly premiums would definitely be higher. And, still, the coverage wouldn’t be “absolute.”
Then I started thinking about another kind of plan—one that does not cost me anything at all. For someone else paid the full price—a one-time payment sufficient for all time. This plan provides coverage like no other. It has the best provision for the worst of human conditions.
This is none other than God’s plan of salvation. It makes provision for the worst human disease—Sin; and it overcomes Sin’s worst consequence—death. And the ultimate premium for this plan was paid by God’s Son, Jesus Christ. “With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever” (Hebrews 9:12 NLT). All I need to do to benefit from this plan is to entrust my whole life to the One who paid the price, so that he can put into effect the redemptive purpose of the plan. The plan covers me completely!
“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them” (Romans 4:7–8 NIV). “You forgave the guilt of your people— yes, you covered all their sins” (Psalm 85:2 NLT). All this is because of God’s great love (John 3.16) that is extended even to his enemies (Romans 5.8). It is his love that covers our sin.
And what should it mean for those who have come to be embraced by this plan? When we come to recognize that love, we too can learn to love as he loves us, and extend the same love to others. “Above all, keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8 NET). God’s coverage of our Sin empowers us to overcome sin and transforms us into instruments of his love. Evidence that the plan is working to cure the human condition. Now that’s coverage!
—Keith Y. Jainga