When the Game is Over
When a chess player is defeated by his opponent, and “Check-mate” has been declared, the game is over. There is no point in continuing. You have lost and you had better accept defeat and put the board away. At least, that is true of a game of chess.
With the game of life, however, that is not necessarily so.
It was “game over” for the thief crucified next to Jesus.
He had lived the life of a criminal and was finally paying the ultimate price for it – his life. There was one thing, however, that he could do, and he did it:
And he was saying, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 43 And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” Luke 23:42-43 – NASB)
The game wasn’t over for him any more.
It was “game over” for the woman caught in the act of adultery.
She was on the verge of being stoned to death according to the law. She couldn’t do anything about that; it was out of her hands. All she could do was kneel there in the dust and wait for the stones to end her life.
She waited…and waited… and waited….
And then…
Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” (John 8:10-11 – NASB)
The game wasn’t over any more.
Perhaps you have come to that place in your life where you are convinced there is no way out. Game over. Or you know someone else who has “lost the game.”
Is the game over for you?
Is the game over for them?
It need not be!
Jesus is the only one who can finally declare “game over,”
And he’s not going to do it if you call on him as the thief on the cross did.
The woman caught in adultery didn’t even ask for His help, but Jesus rescued her anyway.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, 9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved… (Romans 10:8-9 – NASB)
The game of life is never over till you have been to Jesus.
Game Over?
(© Wednesday 22nd April 2025 – by Christopher Shennan
…if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved… (Romans 10:8-9 – NASB)
You think the game is over now,
For the likes of you and me;
You think the scoreboard is final,
And you are lost in misery.
Your life has just come to nothing,
And you are throwing in the towel;
You’ve expended all your effort,
And the umpire’s shouted “Fowl!”
The voice of reason still tells you
There is “no way out” forever;
And the enemy still whispers,
“You’ll find an answer? No! Never!”
I’ve got news for you, my friend:
The games not over, not at all –
As long as you lean on Jesus,
Nothing again will make you fall.
When this life at last is over,
A new game of life will begin –
And you’ll live with Him forever –
A life that is free from all sin.
Please visit My website: www.christophershennan.ca
My blog: https://christophershennan.wordpress.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CNShennan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristopherShennanAuthor
Checkmate by Alan Light. Copyright. Used under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license; please note the Disclaimer at this link. Also used under the Commons GNU Free Documentation License. No changes were made to this photo.
Gems of Discovery - Nuggets of Truth 
