"You won't be long here," he said. "You don't have enough."
Yet when the first hour of play concluded the other night, we were still in the poker tournament -- and the scoffer who admittedly had a much larger stack was out. He bet big on a couple of hands, but in vain.
The lesson? It's easy to scoff at another person's moment of small success -- but that person might wind up with the last laugh and a better finish.
Some people scoff at the idea of believing in God, too:
First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.'" - II Peter 3:3-4
Some people even scoffed at the miracles Jesus performed while He walked the earth. It would be interesting to know how many of them eventually saw the resurrected Christ. Of course, believers in 2012 face an even longer time of waiting. Yet Peter's words of encouragement long ago still help us today.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.... But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. - II Peter 3:9
If your hope beyond this life doesn't rest in God.... well, what does it rest in? Do you have any hope at all? You can have some, if you have faith that lasts far longer than a stack of chips at a poker table.
And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many will wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. - Matthew 24:12-13 (KJV)
Don't be tempted to "go for broke" in the game of life. And don't be tempted to dismiss people who are clinging to a small amount of faith in God, even when all hope seems lost. Be like the underdog sports team that keeps "hanging around" against a stronger opponent. Your endurance well could be rewarded -- in poker and in God's ultimate payoff.
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