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The Game of Religion

Words of Faith Final

The Game of Religion
Words of Faith 7-19-2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2021
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL
www.faithfellowshipweb.com
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Romans 2
    [5] But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. [6] God "will give to each person according to what he has done." [7] To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. [8] But for those who are self‑seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. [9] There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; [10] but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. [11] For God does not show favoritism.

         "Welcome to the Game of Religion!  On today's show, you have a choice to determine what is in store for you at the end of time.
          Right now, you can choose what's behind Door Number One.   Behind this Door is eternal life stored up for you...  IF you are persistent in doing good, seeking glory, honor, and immortality!  
          Or...  you can choose Door Number Two.   For those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there is a store of wrath and anger from God.
          Now don't worry about that second Door because the choice is obvious. Just choose Door Number One and persist in doing good seeking glory, honor, and immortality!  In the Game of Religion everything is easy and simple.  You can choose Door Number One and rejoice in knowing that You will not be with all those lost pagans!
          Are you ready to claim your prizes?  Hold on.  Before we award the prizes, we need to clarify the fine print rules in the Game of Religion.
         1) The Judge of these things is righteous.  All matters are judged by absolute truth. Everything is carefully tallied, and nothing is missed.  No excuses.  No explanations.  No "spin."  No appeals.  All judgments are final.
         2) The Judge will give to each person according to what he has done. No mistakes. None.  Those who have been completely persistent will earn Door Number One.  Those who have been self-seeking at some point end up behind Door Number Two.  Those who have done evil, even in the smallest way, end up there, too.  
         3) Persistence.  Those who have wavered-- not persisted in doing good-- fall short. Those who missed opportunities to do good are disallowed. Those who fail to seek the glory of God at all times fall short. Those who have failed to honor God at all times miss the mark.
         4)  Those who reject the truth, that is, who waiver in their faith, are rejected as well.
         5) And finally, No Favoritism.   There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. It really doesn't matter which religious team you play for."
         "Okay.  Are you ready to claim YOUR prizes in the Game of Religion?"  
         "Wait.  This suddenly does not sound as good as it used to.  If I understand the rules correctly, I deserve Door Number Two.  Is there another way?"  
          "Actually there is.  It is detailed in the Book of Romans, but you probably wouldn't want to know about it.  It is an option by which you would lose the pride and satisfaction of having won the game of Religion for yourself."  
          "Humor me.  Tell me about it."
          "Well, you CAN stake your claim with our all-time high-scoring champion.  He has played by the rules and actually won.  He has persisted perfectly in doing good, seeking glory, honor, and immortality.  He is actually the only contestant who ever won Door Number One.  By faith, you can stand in His righteousness, be accounted with His winnings, and take the Door He deserves."
          "What is the name of this fellow?"
          "His Name is Jesus."
          "Who then will take the Door I deserve?"  
           "He already has."
 
         Lord, I am sick of the Game of Religion.  I have played too long and surely have lost.  Thank You for taking the Door I deserve, bearing the wrath of my sin, and offering me the Door that You alone have won.  I choose not to play the game anymore.  I choose to stand in Your righteousness by faith and receive by grace Your winnings.  In Your name, I pray and have my hope.

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© Jeffrey D. Hoy 2021
Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy - Faith Fellowship Church (EFCA)        
2820 Business Center Blvd.
Melbourne, Florida 32940 (321)-259-7200
Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com
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The Words of Faith devotion is published five days a week by E-mail, excluding Federal holidays. Please feel free to forward this devotion to a friend who might be blessed by this devotion. Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (R) of The Holy Bible. Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. Words of Faith (c) 1997, 2021 Jeffrey D. Hoy. All rights reserved. Permission is granted to forward this copyrighted material or use portions of it with appropriate notation of the source for non-profit purposes.