Games, games and… more games! Like-it or lump-it, that’s the era in which we live. At present, the world has an insatiably appetite for new games of all forms and flavours. Games-mania presently dominates and dictates our lives. The world has become “games obsessed.” Obscene amounts of money are being paid to top-ranking sports athletes to entertain the spectator-masses.
At the first Olympic Games in 1896, nine sports were contested. Since that time new sports have been added and some removed from the program. The next Olympic Games is scheduled to take place at Paris in 2024. It’s expected that 32 sports will be contested, with the debut of Breakdancing. Some will be saddened to learn that Karate, Baseball and Softball have been dropped from the 2024-program.
Not every person competes in a sports activity. Of those who do, their season of top-level competitiveness can be quite short.
There is a game, however, that is being played throughout the world today that is yet to be acknowledged as a “sport”. Played from an early age in life, this game is a natural to every person. In this game, competitors can remain active participants for the duration of their lives, increasing in skill through each participation. The game I’m referring to is the Blame-Game. Played by every person alive, the blame-game is the oldest game in history. When, where, and through whom did this game originate?
Please follow me into the opening chapters of Genesis and imagine yourself a privileged spectators in the Garden of Eden. The weather condition is perfect. The activity we are here to observe is “obedience to God”. The competitors are Adam and Eve. God is their Trainer-Coach, and Referee. Ah, yes… there’s a heckler in the garden who is there to confuse the competitors by corrupting the Coach’s instruction through truth-distortion, lies, and deception. The heckler is none other than Satan. Are you ready, the blame-game is about to commence! (Gen. 2:15-17.)
Competitor-Eve shapes-up to the challenge, but soon fails through uninvited heckler interference. Competitor-Adam is next. He shapes-up to the challenge, but he too fails (3:1-7). As the only requirement of competitors in the blame-game is having a faulty-character everything is in place for the event that is about to begin. Who will be crowned winner, Adam or Eve… or both?
Genesis, chapter 3, records… The Lord God asked Adam. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?” The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.” Yes, yes, yes! Adam takes the lead! He blames God for “the woman God gave him”. Good one, Adam! Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” “The serpent deceived me,” she replied, “That’s why I ate it” (3:11-13). Great comeback, Eve! Blaming someone else for your irresponsible action takes you to the winners’ dais where you and Adam will each receive the coveted Gold “Losers” Medallion.
Of all the games ever played, the blame-game is the only game where every competitor is guaranteed to be a winner of a Gold “Losers” Medallion! Yes, they win at losing, and are guaranteed to suffer devastating consequences.
Friends, the blame-game is for losers! Winners in life do not go around blaming others for their own mistakes… they are quick to own their mistakes and faults.
The following is a small taste of what the Bible says about this topic:
- Blameless is expected: When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life” (Gen. 17:1)
- Blame deflected: The people blamed Moses and said, “If only we had died in the Lord’s presence with our brothers!” (Num. 20:3).
- Blame is accepted: She (Abigail) fell at his (David) feet and said, “I accept all blame in this matter, my lord” (1 Sam. 25:24). [Note: Abigail accepted the blame that belonged to her rude, obese husband… What an amazing woman! It’s no wonder David chose to marry her.]
- Blameless – HOW: The Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant, Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil” (Job 1:8).
Friends, there you have it, the “good oil” on the blame-game — the game that is hotly contested by spouses, children, politicians, world leaders… every person, everywhere! I use to play this game when I was ignorant, but no longer. Why? How? When I was first enlightened by God’s truth, I was shocked to realise my faulty nature. As a consequence, I no longer blame any person for my faults and mistakes. Having taken this action, I am disqualified from participating in the oldest and ugliest game ever played in history.
Next time you feel like blaming someone, blame Satan! The Judge of the universe blames him for corrupting His creatures and His creation. The winner’s dais is reserved for Satan in hell where one day soon he will proudly parade his Gold “Losers” Medallion, together with other losers. Don’t be one of them… Stop blaming God, and others, for your faults and mistakes!
Best wishes
Bill
Dancing on Water 