The Winning Word

Scrabble is one of the most popular board games of all times! Suitable for everyone, young and old, it’s a ‘play on words’. Selecting letters at random, one creates words by using what’s available to achieve a higher score. Webster’s dictionary defines the word scrabble to scratch or grope about with the hands. It’s similar to a disorderly haste. You take what you already know, and whatever others have provided, and within a short time frame, you attempt to achieve more than your competitors, before the game ends.

One might look at the above description and draw a parallel between the game of scrabble and the game of life. Playing by the rules, working with totally random events, building on your past experiences, learning and taking advantage of others work, and slowly accumulate enough good to be placed in a winning position. There’s pressure, uncertainty, the opponent’s skills, and opportunity working for, and against, your efforts. You become intensely focused, looking to increase your luck or skill, looking to reach the point when your opponent is no longer a threat.

One tiny difference we tend to overlook. One’s a game and one’s for real.

We’ve been given a life to do with as we please. We’ve also been given an afterlife. The first is similar to a game, preparing us for a position of comfort or suffering in the afterlife. You may think you have played by the rules, and gained every advantage and figured out the winning word. You’re on notice now—the winning word isn’t ADDICTION. It’s salvation! These two words have the same number of letters but a big difference in meaning. One’s a winner and one’s a loser. How are you playing the game?

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, [that] I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” Deuteronomy 30:19