by Rob Caudillo
The following is a story by Floyd Schneider -
A Christian university student shared a room with a Muslim. As they became friends, their conversations turned to their beliefs. The Christian roommate asked his Muslim roommate, if he had ever read the Bible. He answered no. The Muslim roommate then asked his Christian roommate, if he had ever read the Koran. He answered, “No, I haven’t, but I’m sure it would be interesting. Why don’t we read both the Bible and the Koran together, once a week, alternating books?” His Muslim roommate accepted the invitation and challenge. As the college term came and went, their reading together progressed, and their friendship deepened, the young Muslim became a believer in Jesus.
One evening after they had been into this reading agreement for a while, the Muslim roommate burst into their shared room and said to his Christian roommate (and now friend), “You deceived me!”
“What are you talking about?” his roommate asked.
The Muslim friend opened the Bible he had been reading and said, “I’ve been reading it through and I just read that the Word is living and active!” He then looked at his Christian friend and with a grin, he said to him, “You knew all along that the Bible contained God’s power and that the Koran is a book like any other. I never had a chance!”
“And now you’ll hate me for life?” queried his Christian brother.
“No,” he answered, “but it was an unfair contest.”
This story got me to thinking and wondering, “Does God play fair?” I would suggest the answer is Yes, and No. Now I am not speaking about God’s justice or being a just God. Scripture tells us time and time again that the Lord God is just and requires justice by His people. This is part of God’s character. There is no compromise with God’s justice and being a just God. What I would suggest is that when it comes to our relationship with God and God’s active plan of redemption, God does play fair and doesn’t play fair. In other words, I see a Holy God who loves you and I so much that whenever – no matter the degree – that when we glance or move – no matter how minuscule - towards God, God just like the father of the prodigal son comes and does all the running towards us. God doesn’t wait upon you or me to be ready, to make the first move or to decide to seek out God. God in His grace and love takes the initiative.
So the YES of God playing fair is our free will and the ultimate responsibility to choose to be one of his sons and daughters. The NO of God playing fair comes with a grinning Lord God looking upon us in gracious love saying, “The very moment you started thinking about me; when you opened the door of your heart, even that small crack, to me; when you took that passing glance towards me”, you never had a chance!”. When it comes to you and me, God never takes chances! Therefore, at the end of the day and as we grow in our faith, may you and I know and find constant assurance that when it comes to our relationship with God, it’s no contest!
Peace,
Pastor Rob