I routinely play against a Chess computer. It is difficult to beat a computer because it doesn’t make mistakes. Every so often I succeed. When I say every so often, I mean it, because I just won yesterday against a level which I have been playing at for seventeen months without a victory. How did it happen? Well, without getting into the all the chess details, at the end of the game I sacrificed several pieces in order to promote a pawn into a queen. It was worth it. Once the pawn became a queen, the victory followed.
Chess is a wonderful game, but in the grand scheme of things, it is not terribly important. Sometimes though, I see parallels between it, and the realities of life. Can you think of a real life example of a sacrifice that led to a promotion? I sure can. How about when Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross? His sacrifice has saved millions of people. Yet he didn’t just save them so they could continue on in their same old lives. No. He saved them and made them a new creation with a much greater purpose. Before we were saved, we were kind of like a pawn. Ordinary. After we were saved, we gained some new titles.
- Children of God
- Now you are Light in the Lord
- God’s elect
- Jesus’ friend
- Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ
- A chosen people
- A royal priesthood
- A holy nation
- God’s special possession
We are now anything but ordinary, and being God’s chosen people, priests, and special possessions call us to anything but an ordinary life.
Jesus always saw a better existence for us than when we were dead in our sins.
He always saw an abundant life for us, even when we did not know Him.
He always desired the best for us.
So, is it any surprise that in accordance with His Father’s will, and with the intent to bring His Father glory, He sacrificed Himself, that we might be “promoted”. I don’t know about you, but when I read the list of titles that believers are given, I am amazed at who He has made us to be. If you ever watched a chess game and you saw important pieces being sacrificed so a lowly pawn could be promoted, you might cry out, “What are you doing? That ordinary piece isn’t worth it! Just leave it as it is and preserve the most valued pieces!”. I’m glad God didn’t think that way. He always had the pawns (you and I) in view and He said, “Yep, they are worth the sacrifice.”
Now, let’s spend our days being our own form of sacrifice.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. 2Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2
For Him,
Rob