What? You've never played Chalk The Corner? Where were you brought up? Were you raised in a world without sidewalks?
Seriously, I remember when my neighborhood in Moberly, Missouri didn't have sidewalks (at least not in my immediate area). When they arrived, a new game came into the lives of all of us kids. The game was called "Chalk the Corner." Now we had a choice between Hide 'N Seek and Ante Over.
Some of you reading this have never had the pleasure of playing games with human participants. Your experience has been limited to a bloodless computer or hand-held device. Boy, have you missed something very, very special.
DIRECTIONS IN LIFE....
I'll get to the point of the title of this little message. DIRECTIONS IN LIFE CAN LEAD TO REWARDS OR THEY CAN LEAD TO PENALTIES!
Chalk the Corner was a game that involved drawing arrows on the sidewalk to give directions to a prize. All you needed to play was chalk and a prize. If you didn't follow the directions, the prize would elude you. One direction would lead you to another chalk-written direction and that one to another and so on until you arrive at the prize. There was no way to skip a step or a written direction and reach the prize. If you didn't follow the directions, the prize would elude you. One direction would lead you to another chalk-written direction and that one to another and so on until you arrive at the prize. There was no way to skip a step or a written direction and reach the prize.
Such is life!
The same principles governing Chalk the Corner governs life. Follow directions! Failure to do so will mean missing the prize.
In everyday terms, I think this little game tells us the importance of following directions to claim the greatest prize. In the Bible, Philippians 3:14 records the Apostle Paul writing "I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." A part of the prize is living in the present with a knowing in your "knower" that you're going to make it no matter the supposed obstacles. Another part of the prize is the assurance that you will live forever in a place of blessedness --- the blessedness of health, happiness, and peace in a place called Heaven!
FIND THE PRIZE
The New Testament of Romans has a very accurate "chalk the corner" that some folks call the Roman Road. You can follow it and find your way to the greatest prize of all --- salvation, eternal life, and abundant living right now.
Romans 3:23 --- Romans 5: 1&2 ---Romans 5:12 --- Romans 5:8 --- Romans 10:9-10 --- Romans 15:13 (Not in any particular order. Putting these references in order is your assignment. Happy reading, praying, and enjoy being led by the Holy Spirit in your spiritual game of "Chalk the Corner.")
I hope you will forward to family and friends --- not for me --- for them.
Stay blessed,
Paul
