Path Of Exile |02/02/2025| Rev. Elation's Sunday Service

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, let's reflect on an analogy that might resonate with many of us, especially those who enjoy video games. Imagine a game developer testing a video game for bugs, glitches, and faults before its release. Just as a developer meticulously reviews every aspect of the game to ensure it functions as intended, God examines our lives, looking at our actions, thoughts, and hearts.

In video game development, when a fault is found, it isn't merely about punishment or flagging the error; it's about understanding why it occurred, how it can be fixed, and how to prevent it in future versions. Similarly, God's judgment is not just about identifying our sins but understanding our weaknesses, offering us grace to correct our paths, and guiding us towards righteousness.

First, the testing:

Scrutiny for Improvement: Just as a tester plays through a game to find weaknesses, God watches over us, not to condemn but to guide us toward spiritual growth. "For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives" (Hebrews 12:6). This divine scrutiny is out of love, aiming to make us better versions of ourselves, much like a developer aims to enhance a game.
Completeness of Check: No glitch in a game goes unnoticed by a diligent tester. Similarly, no part of our life escapes God's loving gaze. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13). God sees our sins, our struggles, our triumphs, and our potential.

Second, the judgment:

Judgment for Redemption: In video games, when a fault is discovered, the aim is to fix it, to redeem the game's integrity. God's judgment similarly seeks our redemption. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24). Our faults are opportunities for grace, forgiveness, and transformation.
Eternal Consequences: While a game might be patched or updated, in life, our choices have eternal implications. "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). Unlike a game, where one can start over with a new save, our lives are a single playthrough with eternal significance.

Lastly, the Grace:

Mercy Over Merit: A game developer might choose to release a game despite its minor flaws due to the overall merit of the game. God, in His infinite mercy, offers us salvation not based on our merit but on His grace. "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4-5).

Let us, therefore, live our lives with the awareness that we are under the loving watch of our Creator, who judges not to condemn but to redeem. May we strive to correct our faults, not out of fear of judgment, but out of love for the One who has given us this incredible opportunity to live, learn, and be transformed.

May God bless you all, and may you find joy in knowing that, like the perfect game developer, He is always working on the masterpiece of your life. Amen.