I was sixteen and had never played a game of laser tag in my life.
They had an instructional video playing before the match, but there was one problem… My youth group was going up against a bunch of experienced kids, and they yelled through the whole video.
I couldn’t hear, couldn’t understand. When they handed me my gun, I didn’t know how to use it. I asked my brother for help, and he said he’d explain later. Except then he offered to join the other team to even the sides! I walked into a dark room with flashing blue and red lights, armed but unprepared.
I tried to make it up, pushing buttons at random. For the life of me, I cannot understand why I never asked a team member for help. Eventually, I thought I figured it out. The end scores revealed the truth though. I had received negative points for shooting my own teammates.
It’s Time to Look for Answers
If we aren’t careful, our lives as Christians could end up like that game of laser tag.
We hear every lecture and sermon, but how much do we actually absorb? We march into the battlefield, but there’s a book in our hands that we don’t know how to use.
The badge of “Christian” is proudly displayed, but can we claim it? Can we answer the world’s lies with truth? Can we stand firm in our beliefs in the face of persecution?
1 Peter 3:15 says, “but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
Can we defend our faith? Do we know what we believe? If the answer is no, I think it’s time to ask for help and to search for answers.
Do We Know What We believe?
“You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13).
When I was thirteen, I was encouraged to read my Bible front to back by one of my small group leaders. It changed my life. However, as I now do it for the fourth time, I’m realizing just how many Christians haven’t read their Bibles all the way through.
We say we believe, but we don’t know what we believe. This is a dangerous place to be. It causes division among fellow Christians. Instead of standing united in Christ, we nitpick our own over meaningless matters, but miss Jesus and what he taught!
“Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.” (Romans 12:16).
My friends, it’s time to know what we believe. I don’t know about you, but I crave a deeper relationship with God. With every step I take, I want to know him more. I want to have a response when people ask me about the hope I have.
I trusted my own ability. I got caught with my guard down and ended up shooting my own team members. Thankfully, it was just a game. I got another chance when the buzzer sounded. There was more time for training and equipping, and I went back stronger.
Life isn’t a game.
What we do has outcomes and consequences. However, God is always ready to give us a second chance. There are people around us willing to help! I’m guessing there’s also a Bible in our homes or online that we can read. Rather than arguing with our fellow believers, let’s be united in the one we all believe in.
“The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.” (Proverbs 15:14).
Seek God. Read the Bible. Know what you believe. And be ready to give a defense—not out of selfish ambition, but out of love for the other person, that they too may believe.
