Game of Life

I spent yesterday afternoon playing with my 5 yr old granddaughter, Jena. We play her games with her rules. They often change as the game progresses. She hates to lose. She doesn't see the big picture. She only sees and feels what is happening to her right then so losing is a big deal. As her Memaw, I don't mind losing to her, but I also want her to learn to lose gracefully because, she is going to lose. That's part of life.

How often do we as God's children do the same thing? We want to play our life according to our rules but then we don't like it when we lose, which we inevitably will. Then we want God to bail us out. We don't want to suffer the consequences.

Or we try to follow the "rules" man has ordained as God's directions. But we cannot do this. We are born with a sinful nature and will slip from time to time no matter how good our intentions. Then we feel guilty and think God is angry with us. So maybe we quit trying.

How much easier and more productive it would be if we allow our Creator to direct our steps; if we allow Him to order our days according to His purpose and His will. We don't have to follow "rules". We need to develop a deeply intimate relationship with God. He is the One Who makes us more like Jesus. His Spirit convicts, corrects, guides, and molds us to be the person God created us to be.

In this game we call life, God has already won the victory. Jesus did that on the cross of Calvary. Sure, we'll suffer losses in this world. But if we keep our eyes on the prize, those losses will be "light and momentary" as Paul said. (2 Cor. 4:17). In the end, we who belong to Him win. I pray that Jena will realize that her greatest victory will be in knowing Jesus and in allowing God to guide her steps in this game we call Life.