"How can you turn back again to the weak and worthless world system? Do you want to be slaves to it again? You observe religious days and months and seasons and years. I’m afraid for you!" Galatians 4:9-10 I have terrible luck. When it comes to playing games of chance at the carnival, or quarter machines at the arcade, my skills stink. Serious coinage has been spilled trying to win a single toy for my son or daughter. In this one area of my life, sadness and despair reigns. I can hear my daughter’s disappointment now, “Dad, you lost again?” Yep, I sure did. What really has my number is that dang-blasted, infernal machine sent up special-order from Hades named “The Claw.” I am sure you have played it at least once in your life? It has a pathetic three-pronged claw attached to a twitchy wire. After you put the coin in the slot, the control stick helps you guide the claw over the prize you want, lower it, and then ever so gently pull it up while the claw clamps down and lifts up the treasure. Then comes the tricky part: You must slowly bring the claw over a narrow chute that you drop the toy into, so it slides outside the box and into your child’s waiting arms. I can’t tell you how many times I came close to winning; only to have the claw drop the prize mere inches away from the chute. I have yet to conquer. Well last week, while camping with my family, I visited the campground’s arcade that was right outside the pool. There it was taunting me, “The Claw.” It contained all kinds of colorful balls and spongy toys. In fact, in my brief time in the arcade, I saw three kids win. If I was ever to defeat this vile foe, here was my chance. This was my time, this was my moment. I quickly ran back to our family's campsite to grab some coins and then I bee-lined back to the arcade. To my dismay, in the time I was gone, the machine got cleaned out of toys. The manager of the arcade told me to come back in a few hours (camp code language for days) after he filled it up with more balls. I couldn’t believe it. Quarters were jingling in my pocket, I wanted to play. How could I let this moment slip away? But the box was empty? My hands were nimble and ready to go, I had years of practice, I knew I could win. But the prizes were gone. Why play a game when there is no prize? What good was a claw with nothing to grab? It was only an empty box. I wanted to show the world how good I was at this game, that I could actually win. I had a pocket full of money. But I would only be going through useless motions, maneuvering an impotent claw in a hollowed out world. I walked away because the purpose was lost. “The Claw” is designed to lure you to the toys, but when the toys are gone it becomes a useless contraption of metal. As I walked away I knew I could have been somebody, I could have earned back the respect of my daughter. But not this time, not this day. What good is Judaism, and for that matter the pomp and circumstance of any Religion & Ritual anymore? The machinery of the Old Testament was designed for one purpose: To lead people to the prize. Promises, laws and prophets pointed God’s people to one thing, the Christ. When the time had fully come (Galatians 4:4), and Jesus died and rose again, all was finished and fulfilled. Judaism brought to the world the “Pearl of Great Price”, the ultimate “Treasure.” Jesus becomes ours for all-time, the system brought us to him, he is now, out of the box. So why go back to a system that is empty? Why go through the motions of observing New Moons, Sabbath days, and outward Rituals when they were only mechanisms and tools to bring us to Jesus? Why try to win a game that has already been won? The only answer I can think of is pride, to prove that “I can do it.” To show the world I can finally conquer. I want to show God, my family and self that by trying harder, I won't disappoint them anymore. But I always will, religion and ritual is designed to cause failure. Who cares? The game is over, I don't need to play it anymore. Look, the box is empty… Jesus is here, the treasure is out, I can simply grab him by faith! Isn't he the reason we were playing in the first place? Or was he?
1 Comment
Bob
8/2/2015 03:26:52 pm
Wow... Brother this was incredible.
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