Have you ever considered chess pieces? It is interesting to note that only two of them have individual identities.
The King and the Queen. The rest of the pieces have at least one duplicate on the board. When it comes to the pawns, all individuality seems to be lost as there are eight of them per color and they all look exactly the same. Then there is the idea of movement. Some pieces have so many options like the Queen. And like the Queen, others can cover vast amounts of ground, like the Bishop or the Rook. Still others have such unique movements like the Knight. And then…..there is the lowly pawn. Trudging along. Vulnerable to attack. Requiring the protection of others just to stay alive. Plunk. Plunk. Plunk. Making its way across the board along with its indistinguishable cronies. I must tell you though that things are not quite as they seem when it comes to the game of chess. Pawns are significant pieces in that they can help to gain control of the center of the board, which is critical. They can also perform quite an attack called a “pawn rush” and be a decisive factor in the attack of the King. Additionally, their “structure” on the board has volumes to say about how to attack and if one player has used the space on the board more effectively than others. And then of course….there is the promotion of the pawn, when it gets to the end of the opposition’s side and is “transformed” into a much more desirable piece (usually a Queen). A pawn that can make it half-way across the board can soon become the focus of many resources that must be used by the opponent if they want to prevent disaster.
So there they are…the poor lowly pawn….but not when they are used well! Have you ever noticed that the phrase, “You are being used like a pawn” has the negative implication that someone is being manipulated? That they are just being moved around without having any say as to what is happening in their life? I get the analogy, but if you ever ask a Chess Master about the significance of pawns they will have much to tell you (and this is evidenced by the endless chapters that have been written about their use). You see, in the hand of a Master…..the pawns can accomplish much.
In the hand of The Master, pawns can accomplish much.
Now…have you ever considered people? Yes we have our individuality. However, when you factor out the styles of dress, the automobiles we drive, the way we decorate our homes, we start to see that we have a lot of things in common. It is true that of all of God’s creation, we are blessed with tremendous individuality, but we often end up feeling, “just like the next guy” or not very significant. We also feel like in terms of the “big picture” that we really can’t accomplish much. This is where I think the game of chess has something to teach us about the Christian life. The first thing it teaches us is that as believers we need to support one another if we are going to accomplish anything for God’s glory. Second, and more importantly,
In the hand of The Master, we can be used to accomplish much.
Down on “ground level” it is hard to see what is happening on a chess board or how all the pieces are working together. Yet, for someone who knows the game, an elevated view can make everything clear. God sees His kingdom from a vantage point that we can never consider and He knows each of His children and the gifts He has given them to serve extremely well. He knows how to fit all those gifted-children of His together to orchestrate a beautiful symphony or service to Him and mankind. He knows just where to place people and how they should move to accomplish His glorious purposes. Yes, He can even take seemingly lowly and insignificant “pawns” and accomplish much with them. And how blessed is a pawn that will be used by The Master, even if they must be sacrificed.
Beloved, may I encourage you to see yourself in the hand of The Master, The King of kings, The Lord of Lords? May I challenge you to see yourself as part of a master (
The
Master’s) plan. May I help you to look at those who you will be around in church tomorrow as fellow “pawns” that you need to support so that God finds in us a church that is glad to be guided together by His hand.
Don’t ever think that you are insignificant to God. In the Hand of the Master, you can be used to accomplish much, and He tells you so in His word…..
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9
Keep plunking along and watch how at the end of your life How God transforms your lowly and weak body into a glorified eternal body. Then you will truly see that you were so much more than a pawn to Him.
Glorify the King.
Rob
Aw, this waas an exceptionally nice post. Taking a feww minutes and actual effort to create a good
article… buut what can I say… I procrastinate a lot and don’t manage too get nearloy anything done.