Let me share with you a slightly “different” story of the Gospel message this holiday season.
A young soldier was alone in his tent one Sunday morning in a war zone.
It was quiet that morning… for some reason, there were no mortars and distant gunshots.
The soldier just knew it was Sunday. You can feel it, there is always something different, something holy, about Sunday.
Then he took out a worn deck of cards and spread it out on his bed.
Just then a sergeant came in, saw the cards and asked: “Aren’t you out with the other men today?”
“No Sergeant”, replied the soldier, “I thought I would rather stay here today and spend time with the Lord.”
Amused, the sergeant remarked: “It looks more like you are playing cards to me!”
“No, Sergeant, you see, we are not allowed to bring our Bibles into this country, and now I am learning more about the Lord with this deck of cards.”
“How is that possible?” , asked the Sergeant.
“Look, the A reminds me that the God of the Bible is only One God. There in Hebrews 1, verse 1, He says that He spoke to us as humans in many ways and revealed Himself, but in “the last days” He came to reveal Himself to us as God the Son, who became human in the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, born in the village of Bethlehem, there in Israel. According to the latest research, He was born in September 3 BC, most likely on the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah, that year. Yes, and the whole world commemorates His birth as a human in December of each year.
The Two points to the two parts of the Bible, the Old and the New Testament.
The Three reminds me of God the Trinity who reveals Himself in the Bible as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
The Four reminds me of the four Gospels in the Bible: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In these 4 books, you and I get to know God the Son, Jesus, who became human and here lived among us on earth for about 33 years. In these 4 books we hear about His life, everything He did and said, but also about His death on a cross for you and me, so that we can know and experience Life and it in abundance. But we also read how He rose and is now Savior and Lord for everyone who believes it. He is also the King of all kings and Lord of all lords. And totally in control of every day in my life.
The Five reminds me of the five virgins – there were actually ten, but only five were ready and received God's grace and Heaven.
The Six indicates the six days in which God created Heaven and Earth, yes, the entire creation as we continue to discover it more and more today, by speaking just a word.
The Seven reminds me of the Seventh day that God set aside to rest, so that you and I never have to be slaves who have to work seven out of seven days of the week, because we have a God who takes care of us.
The Eight reminds me of what the Bible tells us about Noah, his wife, their three sons and their wives. They were the only eight people that God spared in the flood.
The Nine reminds me of the nine lepers that Jesus healed. He actually healed ten, but nine never came back to thank him either.
The Ten reminds me of how God gave the Ten Commandments that God wrote on two stone tablets and gave to Moses to tell His people exactly how He wanted them to live as His people so that they could look and be different from all the other peoples around them.
The Jack reminds me of Satan. The Bible tells us that he was also once an Angel of the Lord, but because of rebellion and rebellion against God, and his lies with which he deceived more than a third of the other angels, he and these apostate angels were kicked out of Heaven and now he and these demons are our invisible enemy that we read about in Ephesians 6. Yes, our battle is not against flesh and blood not every day, but against this invisible enemy and adversary every day.
The Queen reminds us of the Bride of God, God's Ekklesia, His Church here on earth, which consists of all believers who are faithfully and obediently waiting for Him to return to take her.
The King reminds me of Jesus, the King of kings and Lord of lords, before whom every knee will bow and every tongue will eventually confess His Name.
You know, Sergeant, if we count all the symbols on these cards, there are exactly 365; one for each day of the year. It reminds me that God protects me every day and is with me every day.
There are also 52 cards in such a deck of cards. One for each week of the year, which reminds me of how much time I have to do something for the Lord.
There are also four suits in such a deck: the "Spades" or spades, Hearts, Diamonds, and Clubs, which represent the four seasons: summer, fall, winter, and spring, which God says in maintain regularity. It reminds me how God is in control of everything.
So, when I need to talk to the Lord, or want to hear His voice, I just take out my deck of cards, and then I see how much I have to be grateful for.”
The sergeant was silent for a long time.
Then he asked with tears in his eyes: “Wow, Soldier, I just realized how much I also want to hear this voice of God speak to me! Can I borrow your deck of cards for a bit?”