Planning Your End Game

Are you strategizing about your potential in life?

Benjamin Franklin, in his article "The Morals of Chess" (1750), wrote: "The Game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement; several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired and strengthened by it, so as to become habits ready on all occasions; for life is a kind of Chess, in which we have often points to gain, and competitors or adversaries to contend with, and in which there is a vast variety of good and ill events, that are, in some degree, the effect of prudence, or the want of it. By playing at Chess then, we may learn: 1st, Foresight, which looks a little into futurity, and considers the consequences that may attend an action… 2nd, Circumspection, which surveys the whole Chess-board, or scene of action: - the relation of the several Pieces, and their situations… 3rd, Caution, not to make our moves too hastily…"
How many chess players do we have here? I'd like to speak to you about chess, potential and ….your endgame. Have any of you ever heard the word before? The endgame is the stage of the game when there are few pieces left on the board, and it's during the endgame when pawns become more important. And it's also the time when the king, which was to be protected in the middle game because of the threat of a checkmate, becomes a strong piece is often brought to the center of the board so it can protect its own pawns and it can attack the pawns of opposite color, and hinder the movement of the opponent's king. Spiritually speaking – this speaks volumes.

From the time you were all wee little ones your parents were looking at you and trying to figure out what kind of person you would become, how successful you could be, where you would end up and ultimately what kind of person you would be? They had and still have great hopes for each one of you. It was no different with me and John – we looked at Shelby and Cameron and we watched their behaviors and mannerisms, and who they were as people and we began to gauge their strengths. With our kids – we noticed their true love for others and their drive to become leaders and we began to form ideals of where their lives might take them. John and I realized very early on that our kids had great potential.

Looking back now – they delivered all that and then some. I'm extremely proud of both of them. I adore my kids. They are without a doubt the most beautiful part of my life besides my faith in Jesus.
But what really is potential? By definition potential is: nothing more than being capable of something that is not yet in existence or having the capacity or possibility. But yet we make great statements about certain people having potential, people latch onto it and hold great hope in it but isn't it really then nothing but a great big question mark. It's not tangible:  You cannot hold onto it or grasp it. It's not real or actual, it's not definite.

 Getting to know many of you in these past 6 years or so, I have noticed some "so called" great potential. Some of the people in here have been just like my kids they have delivered all that and then some when it came to their potential. Sadly, for others they've fallen short.

 So, here we are right now. Most of you are getting out of school – some graduating from 8^th grade, others just to the next grade and some of you are moving on to college.

 So, I think it is a timely time to ask you the question - what kind of potential do you truly have? In the spiritual world – ALL of us have potential. Jesus made it - Even Stevens, so that all of us have the same opportunities to reach Him and be successful in that game. Adrian Rogers, a great preacher spoke that the ground is the most level at the foot of the cross.
When it comes to true, important potential in what truly matters; I'd like to make clear to you that you have it all.
All of you have the potential, the capacity, and the possibility to be all that you would be. Potential in itself just means that you haven't accomplished something ….yet. It is a great thing, but really it's N O T H I N G!!!!!!!
It takes much more than potential to be anything worth anything.
So, what is it then that makes some people successful and other people failures? Not all of us are going to make it…. and they all didn't in Jesus' time either. Think about King Saul, Samson, and Judas to name just a few.
Saul was chosen to be king of Israel because the people were looking for an earthly king instead of being led by God himself. He had so called great potential…..but soon after he was given the job – he fell victim to pride… and that is always a person's undoing!

In 1 Samuel 13 it says that his son Jonathon attacked a Philistine outpost at Geba; but Saul has the trumpet blown to announce the news…that"Saul has attacked the Philistine outpost" …. He takes credit for himself the job that his son did…and then he next acts out in pride by thinking that he alone could accomplish the things that he was called to do without God's help, even though Samuel specifically told him the rules that he was to follow…..

(This is why I will tell you all the time….that the statement is so true… "Obedience is better than sacrifice.")
Samuel told Saul to wait for seven days and for his arrival to offer up a burnt offering to God, but Saul jumps the gun and does it himself, without Samuel being there and because of this choice that he made, it is spoken to him, "you have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after His own heart, and appointed him leader of his people…. because you have not kept the Lord's command."

 Samson's mom and dad also thought he had great potential….they were told early before ever having Samson that he was going to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines… his mom was told that she was never to drink wine or any fermented drink while she was pregnant with Samson because of his high calling, but Samson made poor choices, thinking foolishly that he had all the answers. He became prideful too; wanting to take a Philistine wife, and then thinking that he had all the answers and could outwit all his opponents.

And then there's Judas who walked with Jesus while he performed a great many miracles – he had amazing potential but he also fell victim to his sinful nature and let greed take hold of him; settling to get paid a meager amount of silver to turn over the Son of God Himself, into the enemies hands.

Having potential in itself is NOT ENOUGH to make it.
So, how is it then that some people win the game of chess all the time, no matter when they sit down or who their opponent is?
How can you be successful?
I think it's much more about the question; we just got done asking ourselves in our series …..The question of - "Who am I?"

 How do you see yourself? Who are you, what do you see when you look into a mirror… what do you see yourself to be? If you see yourself as a successful businessperson, a wealthy person, chances are you will become those things, but if you see yourself in the spiritual realm doing great things for God - you can be that too, your vision of yourself has much to do with how well you will succeed; think about it, if you don't believe in yourself, why would anyone else ever believe in you?

Set goals for yourself. Just about everyone when they are in Jr. High thinks that they are going to become a marine biologist someday… because hey, it looks fun to swim with the dolphins. But when it comes down to the real work… very few accomplish it. Usually when those people get into high school they realize the grades that are needed to do that job and they get realistic or jaded and give up on that dream.

But do you right now in your life have ANY goals? What do you see yourself being, dream a little!

Avoid comfort zones.

When you're comfortable it can be dangerous. When you get real comfortable, we get sluggish, start dozing off and we lose our focus. Stretch yourself a little, don't always go the easy route – challenge yourself and be a person of Passion!

There's Power in your choices. Smokey the Bear said it best…"only you can prevent forest fires." Get rid of the victim mentality… You ultimately are responsible for you. Your choices now will either make you or break you… and just like in Chess; you have to think ahead in your moves. You move one way and you make yourself vulnerable to the attack of your foe. Wisely choose your tactics. There's a saying, "if you don't like the crops you are reaping, check the seed you are sowing."

Be teachable. You will NEVER BE SUCCESSFUL at anything you do unless you are teachable, you DO NOT know everything. To be successful at whatever you do in life, you have to be willing to sit under someone and learn. Pride is a destroyer of hopes and dreams.

Resilience. Winston Churchill said, "Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential"

When you fall down, get up. When life gives you lemons make lemonade. Life will be hard and if you are going to do anything at all for Jesus – there will be difficult situations. It's a promise; that's why there is a scripture in the bible that says, "Pattern yourself after the disciples, they put up with anything and went through everything and they never gave up."

AND…take a look at your endgame. Where do you expect to end up? Mindfully think about the worst case scenario. If you want to be the winner, then play like a winner; but don't see yourself as a finisher in this race IF you aren't even running in the first place.

 Solely banking on potential is a catastrophe waiting to happen. Instead envision your future and think about the road that you're walking on. Apply the tools that successful people use and you could have an amazing endgame.

 And remember the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.