The Game of Life
It was family night. He really enjoyed these nights, and his kids absolutely loved them. Every other Friday his wife would make special treats, the kids were allowed to stay up later than usual and they would all sit around the dining room table and play table games. Sometimes he would let the kids choose the games, sometimes he and his wife would choose the games.
When the kids were little, it was Candy Land, Mouse Trap and Operation. But as the kids got older and were able to understand complex rules and strategy a little more, they played card games, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, even Risk. However, they’re favorite game to play together by far, was Life. That’s what they were playing tonight.
“I get the green car!”
“I get the blue car!”
“The white one is mine!”
No matter how old his kids got, they always wanted the same color car every time. They played this game so often the cards were fading, the money was thinning and worn, and they barely had enough blue and pink pegs to go around. He could think of a lot of reasons why this game was their favorite. Personally, he liked the sound the spinner made. But most of all, it was because they got to choose what kind of “life” they wanted. It even said so on the box. He glanced over at the lid.
“The Game of Life! Live the life you want! Choose your path for a life of action, adventure, and unexpected surprises! It’s your choice!”
He chuckled to himself as he thought about his own life. Unexpected surprises was an understatement. And one of them was sitting right across the table from him. His “chosen” path didn’t exactly lead to a life of action and adventure either. He sat thinking as the hum of excited conversation filled the empty space around him. Was this the life he wanted? It wasn’t the one he planned from the beginning, that was sure. But…what he wanted then, has changed now. Life had changed his wants.
He sat pondering, when a voice broke into his thoughts.
“Hey Dad! Spin the wheel! You get to go first!”
He looked up and smiled at his “unexpected surprise”, reached over, and spun the spinner making it whiz.
He loved that sound.
“Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Eph. 3:20-21
Boy, that sounds great, doesn’t it? Live the life you want! Will you go to college or start a career? Want to be an architect, a race car driver, a concert pianist or a lawyer? It can happen, all with the draw of a card! Play those cards right and you can retire at Millionaire Estates!
I once saw a bumper sticker that said, “The one who dies with the most toys wins”.
Oh, my friends. Let the world chase after such things.
We all know, real life doesn’t exactly turn out the way a board game does, does it? Would be nice though…to have all of our decisions made for us with just the spin of a wheel.
But what does it mean to live life?
It’s not something you can approach like it’s a game, that’s for sure. You can’t just pick a card and be Family of the Year…or win a trip around the world.
I heard a pastor say once, “We are brought to life when we are favorably positioned before God through His rich mercy and great love: this is not the work of our hands, it is the gift of God.”
Our life is a gift. And our life is made alive with Christ. Having a purpose-filled, meaningful life is not pie-in-the-sky. It is not unattainable, out of reach, or “only happens to someone else.”
Our sense of purpose depends on how well we believe Ephesians 2:10 which says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
You were created by God. Therefore, you have a purpose.
You are loved by God. Therefore, you have meaning.
God created you for great works! Think about that.
You were made to do great things! Things that God has had planned out for you to do for a long time. And until you do those things, you will never really be fully alive.
So I guess you just have to ask yourself one thing:
Am I really living? Or am I going through life just trying to play my cards right?
Dear Father, you are in control. All things come from your hand. Help me to believe that I was made to do great things. Help me to believe in the plan that you have for me and that those plans are good! Thank you for this gift of life that you have given me! May I live it in a way that brings you glory. Amen.
