Sunday, February 28, 2016

Sharing the Wealth

The World Series of Poker is a standard-setter for tournaments around the U.S.  And this past week it announced some changes which could make players a lot happier.

The biggest change to us for the 2016 WSOP is that many events will have payouts for the top 15 percent of players, as opposed to the usual ten percent. "The minimum payout is expected to be one-and-a-half times the buy-in," a news release.says. The 2015 Main Event worked that way; the minimum prize money was $15000 for a $10,000 standard buy-in, going up from the top ten percent on.

More "winners" should mean more happy customers, bringing more interest to the WSOP. That sounds like good business logic.  And some people expect God to work the same way - that He'll be a "good, good Father" (to borrow from a current hit Christian song) and let almost everyone into His Kingdom.  But is that how God really works?
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. - II Peter 3:9


That's what God wants. But that may not be what ultimately happens.  After all....
By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. - II Peter 3:7


The apostle Peter explains "ungodly men" will be destroyed in an upcoming "day of judgment." Who are these people?
But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars - their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death. - Revelation 21:8


That list has something for just about everyone. (If that's not enough, Revelation 22:15 has another one.) If you're not sure where you stand with God, this is a good place to start.
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves... - II Corinthians 13:5


At the end of the Bible, God really hasn't lowered the "sin bar" that much. Is it time for you to "come to repentance," so you can share in God's ultimate "prize pool"?

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