Rock, Paper, Scissors

There is a hand game I never knew how to play.
I watched my sons play it when they were young to determine who goes first in a game.
I never quite got the concept or saw the point of the whole thing.
Seemed like a lot of work.

Rock. Paper. Scissors.
A game played much like drawing straws or flipping a coin.
It is a game of decision…though not totally random.
Skill is needed in order to anticipate your opponent’s choice.

Two players each put their hand behind their backs.
They choose one of three gestures.
Rock. Paper. Scissors. Shoot.
Each player extends their hand.

A clenched fist represents rock.
Two fingers separated represent scissors.
A hand with all of the fingers extended out straight, represents paper.

In order to win, you must select a gesture that defeats your opponent.
Rock wins over scissors because…rock breaks scissors.
Scissors win over paper because…scissors cut paper.
Paper wins over rock because…paper covers rock.

If both players pick the same hand gesture, they have to do it again.

This was always too confusing to me.
I could never remember which one defeated the other.
To me it was not a good way to decide anything.
I began to believe that it was done simply because it was fun to play.

As I was reading the book of James, this game came to mind.

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.
Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:12,13)

Rock. Paper. Scissors…right in God’s Word.

God is merciful to His people.

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
(2 Peter 3:9)

The fact that the Gospel is still preached…is mercy.
The fact that we have God’s inerrant Word to show us the way of salvation…is mercy.
The fact that Jesus has not come back…YET…so that more people can be saved…is mercy.

When we are forgiven and given a new heart, we have received God’s mercy.
We should be leaping and singing…overjoyed because of our salvation.
We should be extending mercy to others…as God has given us mercy.

We forget…or we are apathetic…or we are lazy…or we are just plain disobedient.
We do not extend mercy like we should.
Our failure to extend mercy to others is a good indicator of whether or not we have experienced God’s mercy.

Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents (millions of dollars) was brought to him. Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before him. “Be patient with me,” he begged, “and I will pay back everything.” The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go. But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii (few dollars). He grabbed him and began to choke him. “Pay back what you owe me!” he demanded. His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, “Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.” But he refused. Instead he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened. Then the master called the servant in. “You wicked servant,” he said. “I cancelled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?” In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed. This is how My heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.
(Matthew 18:23-35)

Mercy given by God .
Mercy extended to others.

We are the servant who owed the millions of dollars.
Our debt of sin is enormous!
How could it ever be paid in full?

God provided the full payment in His Son, Jesus.
Jesus went to the cross in our place…the cross that should have been for us.
Jesus…the perfect sacrifice…paid the debt of our sin.
God stamped the paper invoice…PAID IN FULL.

The debt of our sin nailed Jesus to the cross.
Satan thought his destructive Scissors were victorious.
The Rock, that covered the tomb where Jesus lay, was rolled away.
Jesus rose from the dead!
The Paper…stamped PAID IN FULL…covered the Rock.

Jesus…the Lamb of God…was the only acceptable sacrifice to satisfy our enormous debt.
We received undeserved mercy.

Mercy triumphs over judgment.
We must go and do likewise.