The First Step - A Risk or the Real Thing?

One of the volunteer opportunities which I really enjoy is assisting others with playing Bingo at the local nursing home. Believe me when I say, Bingo is serious business there!! They do not want to miss it nor do they want people to delay the game once we get started!!

Have you ever played Bingo? It is much like buying a lottery ticket or a raffle ticket. You play the “game” by taking a chance; a risk; a shot in the dark. You don’t have a magic formula for ensuring that you “win”. There is nothing you can wear or chant which will improve your chances. Your odds of winning certainly decrease as the number of people playing these games increases.

So why do we participate in these risky ventures? Why are we so obsessed with this? Even as I am helping these residents, I can see their disappointment (and mine too!) when they don’t win! And the prizes are snacks or a small stuffed animal, which are highly treasured! Now if the prize is money, I can easily understand the attraction. Who wouldn’t want to win some of these larger monetary prizes? But usually you have to pay to play, right? So if you don’t win big, then you are losing money. I ask again - why do we do this?

Is it the thrill and excitement of winning? Is it so we can be a "winner"? Is it a mark of achievement? I am sure the reasons are as varied as the people who play - “it’s my recreation”; “my friend won big last week so I’, going to try”; “it’s my birthday and I’m celebrating”; “I’m a risk-taker and this is fun”; “I like the challenge”; “it’s what I do every Wednesday”.

Then let me ask you this. Have you given your life to Christ or led someone to that? Was that risky? Was it like taking a chance on something that you weren’t sure about nor had control over? Did it feel like a “shot in the dark”?

I have read stories about people who were hanging from their last thread and decided to give God a try since nothing else had worked. They were awfully glad they did. Others may have taken this step because a friend had. Some may have felt that “tugging” in their spirit but didn’t realize what it was and decided to move forward toward Christ. Again the reasons are as varied as the people who have given their life to Christ.

BUT the key is in the act of taking that first step. You have to decide to take that step toward either 1) a life of risk and chance or 2) a life of love and dependence on God.

1) Once you take the step to buy a lottery ticket or buy a raffle ticket or play Bingo, you have lost control, but who have you lost it to? Who controls the selecting of the winning ticket or the numbers called in Bingo? A machine; a computer; something programmed by man to randomly select the winning combination, or someone turning the wheel for Bingo numbers.

2) Once you take the step to give your life to Christ, you have lost control here as well, but who have you lost it to? Who controls the acceptance (not “selection” because He receives all who come to Him) of the newest saved soul? It is not a machine or a computer or something programmed by man. It is our Almighty Creator God! He has you now as one of His own because He called you before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4). He will continue to love you, nurture you, teach you by the Holy Spirit, encourage you, send others to you to help along the way. He will never leave you nor forsake you. It is a sure thing! Why wouldn’t we choose this step forward?

When it comes to God, I don’t believe that there is any risk being taken to follow Him because I know He’s got my back! You can count on Him and not wonder if He’ll show up or answer; you can depend on His everlasting love which has never ever changed; you can experience life to the fullest through Him. What more do you want? When you compare a game of chance with a life of assuredness, I’ll go with the real thing everyday.

Cut your losses from the past! Go with the sure thing. Take that first step and follow the one you can count on, who loves you more than anything, and who you know you can trust! Besides, He already knows your name and is waiting...

Thanks for stopping by,

Rachel