Playing by the Rules

Suppose you decide to create a video game. You map out the game plan on paper, search the internet to create and program, invest the money for production, and creatively launch and promote your invention. Of course, this game is extremely unique so you clearly include special rules to follow on all marketing materials and again at the beginning of the game. 

Thousands sell and you are thrilled.

But then…complaints start to roll in—

"The game is not fun at all, actually quite frustrating and impossible to win."

So, of course, you investigate these claims and discover every disgruntled game player, never bothered to read the rules. Not a single time. They expect to simply play and win the game.

Seems unfair your good name and tremendous effort are being trashed by those who don't want to play by the rules.

I imagine that's how God must feel too.

You see, He created LIFE for each of us and then He gave us a few rules to live by. Rules that will keep our focus where it should be (on Him) and rules on how to live with others. He gave us a whole book full of real people examples on how to live LIFE (the Bible). He even tells us how to win the game of LIFE (by believing in His Son) and what will happen if we don't (a fiery, miserable eternity).

But some folks don't like the rules or believing in His Son or the hot, smoky ending. So they just play the game, never concerned with the rules, and hope for the best. And sometime they trash God because they don't like the painful consequences of their choices. They gripe and become experts at the blame game.  

Let me be clear. I'm not saying life is a game or easy. I'm not trying to fit our awesome God in a limited human example. I'm not saying the rules bring salvation. Only God's grace does that.

I am saying if we lived by His rules on how to treat each other, there wouldn't be innumerable world-wide woes like—lying, murders, jealousy, theft, discord, hate, and violence.

Can you imagine if the whole world followed the Golden Rule? "Do unto others as you would have them do to you."

It would be a dream come true. And a game worth playing.

What do you think?

By the grace of God and perpetual spiritual and emotional renovation, Tammy Van Gils writes and blogs about Hope for the Everblooming Life at Tammyvangils.com. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers Association and Word Word Weavers International. Visit her on Facebook  and Twitter.