21. It's Your Move

Key Bible Verse: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8 NIV)

It is interesting to see how Chess has been used in the past to illuminate theological concepts. A fascinating mosaic is found on the floor of the San Savion Basilica in Piacenza, Italy. A twelfth century artist designed two pictures illustrating two views. One depicted a dice game in progress. The other a game of chess.1 The dice game indicates a life based on fate while the game of chess is dependent on personal choice.

Regarding our eternal destination (either heaven or hell), some believe this was determined by God before we were born. It is our fate. Others (Wesley/Arminian) believe that God wants us to come to him by our own free will (personal choice). By doing so we can choose to experience his grace and in turn spend eternity in heaven with him.

Philippians 2:12  indicates that you should: continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. In other words, we need to make an ongoing personal choice using our belief system. James Arminius asserts that, The Holy Spirit exerts His regenerating power only on certain conditions, that is, on the conditions of repentance and faith.2

My response: Lord, I choose you. Thank you for providing your grace through your Son.

  

Thought to Apply: We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has by His suffering and death made an atonement for the whole world so that whosoever will may be saved.3

1 Shenk, David (2006) The immortal game. New York: Doubleday. (p. 52)

2 Wiley, H Orton (1952) Christian theology, Vol. II. Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press. (p.418)

3 The Salvation Army. (1998). Salvation story. London: MPG Books Ltd. (p. 67)