Don't Give Up!

There is a painting that shows the devil at a chessboard with a young man.  The devil has just made his move, and the young man's queen is checkmated. On his face is written defeat and despair. One day the great chess genius Paul Morphy stood looking at that painting.  He studied carefully the position on the board. Suddenly his face lit up and he shouted to the young man in the painting, "You still have a move--don't give up, you still have a move!"

We come to those moments when it seems we are checkmated.  We see no winning move we can make. Then the great Master of all life comes closer to us. He remembers one day when He prayed to be spared from the cross: "Let this cup pass from me," he pleaded. The cross seemed the end of His world.  But there was yet another move. Beyond the cross was an empty tomb--and victory.

That same Christ can see beyond your cross to some triumph. "Don't give up, you still have a move," He says.                      by Morris Chalfant from "The Advocate"

You may be looking at the painting of your life discouraged by failures, sin and disappointment. All that you see is broken and seems impossible to put together again. Just as the story above you still have hope but it is not found in human institutions or in the things that bring us pleasure. Only the one who gave all can bring us the peace and hope that we so desperately desire.  I encourage you "Don't Give Up!". You can still win in this game of life but you will have to allow the King of Righteousness to make that last move for you. You will find that victory is just a few words away, "I Surrender All".