God Still Has One More Move

This is a story about a painting in a famous art gallery in France. The painting depicts two chess players, one of whom is Satan, who appears arrogantly confident, and the other is a man who looks forlorn. If Satan wins, he wins the man's soul. (The painting is now popularly known as "Checkmate" and was painted by Friedrich Moritz August Retzsch.) According to legend, a chess grandmaster came upon this intriguing painting in the Louvre museum alongside other famous art such as the Mona Lisa. The grandmaster stared a long time at the chessboard in the painting and finally noticed something surprising. The typical interpretation of the painting (that the devil had the man in "checkmate") was incorrect. Though the devil seemed to be the obvious victor, he was, in fact, not winning.

One day, during a tour through the art gallery, a world-famous chess player was in the tour and stopped at the painting for a while. The tour kept going, and the tour guide came back and asked what he was doing. The chess player said, "You know, I'm a world-famous chess player. You're either going to have to change the painting or change the name of it because this man still has one more move. The king still has one more move. He has not been beat by the devil. He still has one more move, and then the devil will be in checkmate."

The moral of the story is that you need to know that God still has one more move in your life. God is still on the throne even when life is bearing down, and it feels like you can't stand anymore. Having done all, stand there before God and let him rebuild your life. The enemy cannot win on God's timetable.

Here are some Biblical references related to the story:

1. Psalm 23:4 - "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

2. 1 Corinthians 10:13 - "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

3. James 4:7 - "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

4. Ephesians 6:11 - "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes."

5. 1 Peter 5:8-9 - "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings."