Playing for Keeps

When I was a kid I used to play checkers with my Grandpa Keller. He was a gentle and patient man. I know this because he would often say, “Are you sure?” after I had made my move. I learned quickly that he was kindly signaling that I had made a very bone-headed move that I should reconsider. I remember vividly one game we played when I was about 12. I thought I had my Grandpa cornered. Then in one jack-rabbit like move, he hopped here and there all over the board and took out 3 of my kings and another piece or two. I lost big time! After that game was over, I was so glad that it all went back in the box. No permanent monument to my failure. This is the hope of every Christian. God’s grace will “reset” the game at our death or Christ’s return and all our failures will be forgotten – erased by the blood of the Lamb.

            But if grace resets the game, so to speak, what is the point of playing the game well? Do both our losses and victories get put back in the box? Is there anything we get to keep? Any progress that matters? Yes!

^ESV 1 Timothy 4:7-10 “Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; ⁸ for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. ⁹ The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.”

            We won’t take our material possessions with us to Heaven, nor these current bodies. But we will take “godliness” with us. So we ought not to think of grace as a total reset of the game. The grace of Christ does wash away our sins – zeroing out our losses, but we get to keep our victories! At least those victories that withstand the testing fire (1 Cor 3:10-15).

            As I think about making resolutions for the New Year, I’d like to do something that matters, something that lasts. According to the Apostle Paul training for godliness is what I should pursue. But what is godliness? A study of the term “godliness” in the New Testament will reveal that godliness does not mean “like God” and training for godliness isn’t the pursuit of perfection or an effort to emulate God. “Godliness” is piety, uncommon reverence for God. Jerry Bridges in his book Training for Godliness defines godliness as “devotion to God which results in a life that is pleasing to Him.” So godliness isn’t so much about outward virtues as it is about cultivating love, fear and devotion to God. Or to put it another way, training for godliness is less “skills” training and more “love of the game” training. Bridges helps us: “So often we try to develop Christian character and conduct without taking the time to develop God-centered devotion. We try to please God without taking the time to walk with him and develop a relationship with him. This is impossible to do.”

            I think godliness is sort of like the “raw material” necessary for eternal existence in God’s presence. Maybe that is why the Lord brought Enoch straight up to Heaven, skipping physical death, because Enoch sought to please God so thoroughly in his life as he walked with God that he had the raw material necessary for Heaven. (Ge 5:24; Heb 11:5) Godliness is a good foundation for the future (1 Tim 6:19). Godliness is our thirst for God – our desire for HIM. (Ps 42)

            Sometimes we’re so hyper-allergic to works righteousness that we’re guilty of putting striving and toiling (1 Tim 4:10) in conflict with grace. As if by training for godliness we were undermining grace. This might be true if grace simply related to forgiveness of sins – a “reset” of the game so to speak. But grace is God giving us what we do not have and cannot get on our own. If we’re to toil and strive in training in godliness we will need the grace of God all the way: ”For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Col 1:29)

            So grace and hard work aren’t at odds in the Christian life. For we are training ourselves for godliness not to merit Heaven, but in an effort to appreciate Heaven. This year I am resolved to train for godliness in order to increase my capacity and appreciation for Christ. Perhaps this is why whatever progress you and I make in godliness in this age lasts. Because in training for godliness we’re developing a palate that appreciates Christ and we’re developing a capacity to drink more of Him. ‘Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."’ (John 4:10) In Heaven every Christian will drink of the Living Water. But we’ll drink as much as we want. Those trained in godliness will drink MORE! More of Christ! More of the rewards! More of grace! Why? Because the godly are thirsty. So let us train ourselves for godliness!