In chess, the pawn is the weakest piece. However, if you stop your understanding of the pawn there, you’ll miss that the pawn also has the most potential of all the pieces. If it reaches the other side of the board, it becomes more powerful.
Life isn’t a game. I’m not suggesting you play games with your life. Playing the long game means investing the effort to achieve maximum results. Most of the time this requires sacrificing short-term rewards.
Jesus gave up His earthly life to secure an everlasting victory over death. His life was short but long on results. He achieved such outstanding results because He followed the Father’s plan. He fulfilled His destiny.
You, too, have a clearly defined destiny. Have you invested the time to learn what it is? You can’t play the long game without it. You can expect to spend your whole life in preparation for the next moment of your life. God wants you to know your identity and walk in good works. The more you know your identity, the more you know your destiny.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
—Ephesians 2:10
The long-game player finds the optimal balance between immediate satisfaction and maximum impact. Jesus spent time healing people who eventually died. At first glance, this seems like a waste of time. He did it anyway because He cares. He showed us the Father’s heart. But Jesus never allowed any short-term gain to delay, diminish, or deter Him from God’s long-term plans.
God made you for a specific purpose. Who you are is enough to fulfill your purpose. You have all you need to reach your potential. But you must seek and discover to reach your potential. As you become more, you’ll be able to accomplish more. But, if you don’t invest in growth, you delay reaching your potential.
You can’t play the long game without faith. God always sees the end — the infinite future. Because you can’t see that far, you must trust His vision. You can, however, see far enough to take the next step.
