When I was a kid, Monopoly was one of my favorite board games. We could play for hours to acquire the most properties. The main objective was to own a couple of hotels on Eloff Street. With hard work, good planning, and a little luck here and there, you could eventually become a real estate mogul. Some of us colluded to get another player to file for bankruptcy. Some went astray and borrowed money from the bank and “forgot” to pay it back. Yes, not every player’s strategy smelled so good.

I was very afraid of going to jail because it would be fatal to have to wait a couple of rounds. Best of all for me was landing in the “opportunity” space and, best of all, getting a “Get Out of Jail Free” card. This card could give me that little extra push to eventually win the game.

Monopoly is just a smaller version of life. We all start life on an equal footing. We arrived with nothing.

Some people play very well by the rules and become very successful. Others don’t and are also very successful. Some often take turns in jail because of the decisions they make.

But eventually, after our life on earth, we all go to eternal prison, or as the Bible calls it, eternal damnation. Those who call things by name simply call it hell. This final destination is what we all deserve as a result of the many, many sins that we commit. We deserved it 100%.

But God could not bear for this to happen to each of his creatures. 9God did not prepare us for angry rejection, but for the salvation of our Master, Jesus Christ. 10He died for us, a death that unleashed life. Whether we are awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we are live with the!

In real life, there is a “Go to Heaven” card for each of us. You don’t deserve it, but you get it, because you see, Jesus paid for it. He paid dearly with His blood and His life. Yes, heaven is free, but it costs a lot. The life of the Son of our King God.

The most wonderful thing of all is that everyone can have it. You don’t have to have luck on your side, like in Monopoly, to end up on the “chance” block by chance. No, everyone can receive this “Go to Heaven” card.

Go live a life of endless joy and peace and show each Tom, Dick and Harry your “Go to Heaven” card.

Reflection

Have you collected your card?

Have you shown it to others?

Who do you have to show it to today or tomorrow?

Pray

Thank you, Jesus, that I have a place in heaven because you were prepared to bear the punishment for my sins. I want to show you my gratitude by living a life of obedience to You. My heart is overflowing with joy. Amen.