DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PLAYING BY THE RULES

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – PLAYING BY THE RULES

"And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules." (II Timothy 2:5)

Can you imagine an athletic contest without rules? Every game has rules that must be observed or there are penalties. People constantly try to get past the rules by cheating. Not long ago, there was a marathon in which one of the runners decided flaunt the rules by taking a shortcut to get ahead of the rest of the crowd. And I recently heard of a world-class chess player who was caught cheating. He was banished from competing. Cheating at chess? Who woulda thunk? I have watched rugby games and it seems to me that there are no rules – anything goes. But the players know the rules and so do the refs. You can't ignore the rules and cheat without consequences.

There are rules in Christ's kingdom. Even getting into the Kingdom requires following some rules. Jesus said. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber" (John 10:1). Jesus said that no one comes to the Father except by trusting Him as The Way. That is the rule. Anyone who tries to get into Heaven by another way is violating God's rule.

Life is filled with rules to live by, whether it is taking a test, paying my taxes, being faithful in marriage, or any other scenario. Not observing the rules by cheating is a form of robbery. I am stealing something from someone else of what is lawfully due. We can't cheat God by playing by our own rules.

Following God's rules will ensure that a person is acting lawfully. Trying to cut corners or make up my own rules will only end in disqualification. Anyone who thinks they can pull the wool over God's eyes will be dismayed when they stand before the Great Judge. He knows all of the tricks we may try to play. It is better to abide by the rules than to try to fool Him.

Knowing the rules helps me play the game better. God has given us a handbook of rules for regulation play. We do well to study the rule-book so that we know what God expects. We will not receive the winner's crown – the crown of life – unless we play by God's rules.

Love, Dad