My Move

Sometimes when I play checkers or chess, I don’t want to move because I can see the chain of events that will happen after I make any move.  Some games I like to play, I have to be two or three moves ahead of my opponent.  The “game of life” is like that sometimes too. I have to think through the consequences of each “move” or choice I make.

The Lord speaks through the prophet Zechariah and basically says to the people of Israel and Judah, “It’s your move”. Check this out….

2 “The Lord was very angry with your ancestors. 3 So tell the people: This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: ‘Return to me, and I will return to you,’ says the Lord All-Powerful. 4 Don’t be like your ancestors. In the past the prophets said to them: This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: ‘Stop your evil ways and evil actions.’ But they wouldn’t listen or pay attention to me, says the Lord. 5 Your ancestors are dead, and those prophets didn’t live forever. 6 I commanded my words and laws to my servants the prophets, and they preached to your ancestors, who returned to me. They said, ‘The Lord All-Powerful did as he said he would. He punished us for the way we lived and for what we did.’” (Zechariah 1:2-6 NCV)

The choices I make today and every day has consequences. Some consequences are good and some are not so good.  The Lord has set the code of behavior for me to honor and follow. If I’m running after His heart, the boundaries of behavior are crystal clear.

It’s always my move in the “game of life” before Him. He has already made His move to me. He sent His Son Jesus to make the way for me to come back to Him. He doesn’t need to make another move to me – Jesus is enough. I am the one who moves back and forth in my relationship with the Lord. He is consistent. He is always present. He never leaves me. I’m the one who wanders off and abandons my relationship with Him. He is always waiting for me to move toward Him. He is so patient as I stumble and bumble my way through life, stepping outside the boundaries He has for me.  I must always remember that it is my move – He calls me closer to Him. I must remove the distractions that take me down a different route in life. That different route leads to death – His way is life!