If you have watched any Cable Television at all lately, you certainly have seen TV Poker games. There is everything from weekly ESPN World Championships to Celebrity Poker. A friend recently remarked, “You know your life is in really bad shape when you find yourself sitting and watching celebrity poker on the television!” The poker game sweeping the country is called, Texas Hold ‘Em.
I am worried this poker explosion, which appears so acceptable, is a free advertisement for evil. We now are experiencing a large and growing youth gambling problem. It is not unusual to hear of high school students owing amounts up to $500 to classmates; money lost during poker games. Texas Hold ‘em is so popular and so easy to play that we have accepted it is as normal to our society. When in fact, it is a game based on breaking down the other individuals personalities in an attempt to take everything from everyone. This is a dangerous game and yet the popularity of Texas Hold ‘Em is growing by leaps and bounds.
One particular play in this game is called going all in. This refers to a move which puts your whole stake in the game on the line. Either you are going to win big or you lose everything. Going All In can be the bold move of a champion, who made the right choices at the proper time, or it can also be the bold move of a fool who walks away with nothing. Just as importantly to NOT go all in, when the time is right, also has the same consequences. Going all in is a term of commitment. When one goes all in, one commits everything and holds nothing back in reserve.
I read the city swimming pools will open on Tuesday. Wow! Imagine the temperature of the water. When I enter water like that sometimes I wade in to my knees, then my thighs, then my waist, then some nut splashes water at me, then finally after I have risen my courage to the highest point, I put my head under. In just a few minutes the water feels just fine, but at first I think I am freezing. Sometimes however, I just go to the deep end and dive in. No muss, no fuss, just go all in.
Abraham and Sarah have gone all in by following God in Covenant TWO ways. And they have dived in, no “frady-cat” wading around for them. First, they have put their whole lives on the line by moving to a new place where they are living as strangers in a strange land. And they have moved to this new place because God invited them to move. Has God ever invited you to move to a new place in your life? Secondly, Abraham and Sarah have also Gone all in by having all the males circumcised as a constant reminder and witness to themselves, their families, and the society in which they live that they have committed their lives to the Lord God. Their share of the covenant with God was that they would live lives full of miracles and trust God completely in ALL things. God would in turn offer unconditional love and freedom to grow and choose.
Remember from last week that God has promised them: a home (land) and offspring (like stars in the sky and sand upon the sea shore.) Both of which they do not possess and both are in reality, quite impossible. But with God all things are possible and these things came true.
Sarah gives birth to baby Isaac while in her 90”s. They lived lives full of Miracles.
Abraham was willing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God. They trusted God completely in all things.
The Bible is story after story of God forgiving and loving unconditionally. No where more powerful than Jesus’ death and resurrection for our lives. Jesus died with our sin so that we may have life.
God offers the opportunity to learn and grow from all our experiences. And we know all to well that God has given us freedom to choose good or bad. Certainly God has kept God’s side of the covenant, even unto today.
A good working definition of covenant is: When Unequal Parties agree to Unconditionally offer the full measure of their agreement, Regardless.
Covenant means both parties go all in all the time.
Example: a successful marriage is not 50/50. It is always 110/110.Both partner is giving and sacrificing for the other with out regard to their own needs. Show me a couple who gives 110/110 and I will show you a very happy couple and a pretty well adjusted family.
We need to be reminded: God loves us unconditionally and offers freedom to grow and choose. And we Trust God in all things and live as if everything is a miracle and a blessing.
Going All In on God’s covenant FEELS like a Bold Move!
In truth, we are not risking anything we will not lose anyway… You are not going to take it with you.
Think about what you would risk by fully diving in with God. None of those things are anything but a gift from God in the first place. Like wading into the swimming pool we are afraid of the unknown, we find it hard to trust God. And so there we have it… trusting God seems to be the key to this whole covenant.
We know in our heads that God loves us. We know in our heads that we need to come closer to God. We know in our heads God is the God of miracles and blessings. But we are afraid of Going All In with our Hearts. We are wading ankle deep, while we muster the courage to put our heads fully under the water.
Sadly, we have no idea when that day will be, and we have no real plan on how to get to that day.
The church, who should be leading in this process, has instead been a hand holder. We have been willing to stand along side and say nice things like,
“You are doing good by getting this far!
Some day it will just happen for you!
We are so glad you are in the pool.
What a pretty swimsuit!”
Others in the church kick water and laugh as they go off the high board at the deep end. “Look at me, they shout, see how good I am!” That does not help either. Some days I think the church has forgotten how to help others find the covenant of God in their lives.
Let me help you go all in starting today. Or at the very least what that might look like here at Salem UMC.
FIRST: Begin Trusting God with Everything
Commit our Life to Christ – Surrender every Day
Every day in Prayer
Commit to Regular Worship Attendance every Week
3 out of 4 Sundays
Commit to a Spiritual Growth Opportunity every Year
Short Term, Long Term or Both
Commit to a Mission Effort that Moves Your Heart every Year
Whatever - !!
Commit a Fixed Percent of your Income to God
Make your giving planned and regular – EFT soon.
SECOND: Accept God’s power to live as if everything is a miracle.
Feel the change in your attitude immediately!!
Experience the power of the Holy Spirit at work in your life.
Remember, going all in refers to a move which puts your whole stake in the game on the line. Either you are going to win big or you lose everything. Going All In can be the bold move of a champion, who made the right choices at the proper time, and it is also can be the move of a fool who walks away with nothing. Perhaps more importantly to NOT go all in, when the time is right, also has the same consequences.
Win Big or Lose Everything. It is Your Move.
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