Looking For a Loophole?

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July 19, 2020 • 06:00

Looking For a Loophole?

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”
–Matthew 7:21

While studying Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 13:22-28 (all accounts of Jesus warning those who falsely believe, for various reasons, they are headed to heaven), one was reminded of a man from one’s past.

This was a man who played chess.

This man really enjoyed playing in chess tournaments and he really enjoyed it when he won chess games at these tournaments.

FIRST, he bought an official rule book used in chess tournaments.

THEN, he eagerly read the rule book he had purchased in pursuit of an edge (over future opponents).

And so, it was at a large tournament when the man unveiled the loophole he thought he had found in the rules.

The loophole he was certain would make him a champion.

The rules of chess say that at long as a player does not let go of a piece, his move is not complete. This was the loophole the man thought he had found.

During the tournament, the man’s opponent approached the tournament director and told him, “I think you had better come see something my opponent is doing.”

His opponent was the Loophole Man.

The man with the loophole was moving his knight several times across the board, snatching one of the opponent’s pieces and then fleeing back across the board all in one move. Because he kept his hand on his knight, the man argued that his move was not over. The tournament director pointed out to the man that in the first several pages of the rule book was a demonstration of how each piece moved, with the knight making short, L-shaped moves (hops). In the rule book, the piece moves were demonstrated with diagrams.

Loophole Man was insistent.

“But my hand never left the piece! My move is not over!”

The tournament director explained that the move of the knight was diagrammed in the rule book for all to see and was a short two-square move in the shape of an ‘L.” The tournament director also explained that what Loophole Man was doing was not one move of the knight, but seven or eight moves, which constituted an illegal move.

“A player is not allowed to make up how the pieces move.”

“But my hand never left the piece!”

“And if you had made a LEGAL move with the knight, your move would not be over. You’re making an ILLEGAL MOVE and claiming it is LEGAL because you keep your hand on your piece.”

“That’s your opinion!”

“Well, at this tournament, that’s the only opinion on the rules that matters. You get ONE legal move with your knight, not seven or eight moves illegally. Go back to the board, make a legal move or forfeit the game.”

This incident was brought to mind while reading over the following passages in which Jesus is basically warning that there will be MANY who believe they are bound for heaven–but when the time comes, they discover they are wrong.

“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
–Matthew 7:21-23

“And he [Jesus] went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”
–Luke 13:22-28

All of those who are crying “LORD, LORD!” thought they had it in the bag: they believed because they did certain things, they were IN.

LORD, LORD: Who is Crying Lord, Lord?

Some relied on prophesying; others, on casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Still others believed that because they did many wonderful works in Jesus’ name, they were heaven-bound.

Maybe these folks thought they had discovered a loophole?

Maybe these folks thought they had a foolproof way of getting into heaven?

Maybe these folks thought as long as they did the things they brought up to Jesus, they could do anything else they pleased?

And that is the thought which brought all of this together: chess, Loophole Man, people crying, “LORD, LORD!”, disappointment at discovering a sure thing which wasn’t, looking for an edge or a loophole.

DOES the reader concern himself much with where he will spend his eternity?

OR, does the reader believe that he’s “got that covered“?

It is not YET too late: there is still time to change direction (repent), place your faith (hope) for the future entirely on Jesus Christ and enter the kingdom of heaven.

DOES the reader believe he is saved?

Make Your Calling and Election Sure: End Times Survival

DOES the reader believe he is NOT saved?

Time is Running Out: Today is the Day of Salvation

THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. ”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-8

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
-–Romans 1:16

MORE: Eternal Salvation Through Jesus Christ: Salvation Messages from End Times Prophecy Report

[Portions of this piece appeared originally in End Times Prophecy Headlines: July 15 , 2020.]

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by Jeremiah Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier

images: Photo by Morning Brew on Unsplash.com

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