When Your Blinky Is Right Around the Corner

I have always loved the video game “Pac-Man.” (I already alluded to it in a previous blog!) In the game, Pac-Man’s goal is to eat as many “dots” as possible – all the while eluding potential life-ending ghosts who want to end his life by simply touching him. The creators of Pac-Man give you every advantage possible including “power pellets.” When Pac-Man eats one of the four power pellets, he becomes invincible. He can go anywhere and do anything without the possibility of being eaten by the ghosts…but only for about 5 seconds. During this time, Pac-Man must gobble up as many pellets and ghosts as possible. The ghosts who were eaten must go to jail for a short time before being released back into the game. After the 5 seconds, the game goes back to normal; Pac-Man, once again, becomes the hunted. The game continues until either Pac-Man is successful in eluding the ghosts and eating all the pellets or the ghosts win by touching him.

As a kid, I loved Pac-Man. (I can still here the music of the game playing in my head as I type this.) There were always 4 ghosts - Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde. I could out-run most of the 4 ghosts – Inky, Pinky, and Clyde – but the ghost which usually ended my game was Blinky, the red one. Blinky and I were mortal enemies. Blinky had cutting eyes, swift motions, and an intuitive ability to anticipate my every move. He strutted around (okay, floated around) like he was an innocent creature and then…BAM!! He’s got you. He was quick. He was mean. You will never convince me that those ghosts could not “learn” my gaming tendencies. The only way to defeat Blinky was outthink him, so THAT was my goal.

I figured out very early that I needed to devise a plan. The only plan I could think of (remember I’m 8!) was to lay in wait in a corner right beside the power pellet. As soon, as Blinky came near I would take a bite of the power pellet and have him for lunch. My plan worked…most of the time. Occasionally, even today, I still have nightmares of that red ghost…

Spiritually, Believers have “ghosts” or demons which haunt us continuously, as well. For some, the ghosts are daunting. Drugs, alcohol, greed, etc., are ghosts which do haunt and destroy lives. Other sins such as lying, doubting God, or theft also seek to harm us. Whatever the “ghost” is in your life, know God has made a Way to destroy each one and obtain victory. We need to have a game plan. Let me suggest 4 weapons.

1. Confront - Confront the devil and his minions. On our own, we are powerless, but through God’s strength, even Satan must flee.

2. Call - Call upon God for help in every circumstance. God will give us mercy and grace in our time of need if we just ask Him for it.

3. Confess - Confess your sin to God. David, a man after God’s own heart, models how we should admit to God our sins and wrong-doings, and He will forgive them.

4. Conquer - Allow God to bring victory to your situation. Romans 8:37 reveals, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” Did you catch that? “More than conquerors!”

These 4 God-given weapons guarantee our victory. Oftentimes in this “game” of life, we, the Church, do not feel like victors. Rest assured, however, our victory comes not in present circumstances, but in eternal riches and rewards. As a church, we must not only know about these weapons, but we must also use them. The devil is defeated. His eternal doom is certain. God offers to us power to defeat him every second of every day. Join me in the battle. Even if your “Blinky” is just around the corner, victory through Christ is yours!

Spiritually,
Believers have “ghosts” or demons which haunt us continuously, as well. For
some, the ghosts are daunting. Drugs, alcohol, greed, etc., are ghosts which do
haunt and destroy lives. Other sins such as lying, doubting God, or theft also
seek to harm us. Whatever the “ghost” is in your life, know God has made a Way
to destroy each one and obtain victory. We need to have a game plan. Let me
suggest 4 weapons. 

1.
Confront - Confront
the devil and his minions. On our own, we are powerless, but through God’s
strength, even Satan must flee. 

2.
Call - Call
upon God for help in every circumstance.   God will give us mercy and grace in our time
of need if we just ask Him for it.

3.
Confess - Confess
your sin to God. David, a man after God’s own heart, models how we should
admit to  God our sins and wrong-doings,
and He will forgive them.   

4.
Conquer - Allow God to bring victory to your situation. Romans 8:37 reveals, “Yet
in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
Did you catch that? “More than conquerors!” 

These
4 God-given weapons guarantee our victory. Oftentimes in this “game” of life, we,
the Church, do not feel like victors. Rest assured, however, our victory comes
not in present circumstances, but in eternal riches and rewards. As a church,
we must not only know about these weapons, but we must also use them. 
The devil is defeated. His eternal doom is certain. God offers to us power to
defeat him every second of every day. Join me in the battle. Even if your
“Blinky” is just around the corner, victory through Christ is yours!

As
a kid, I loved Pac-Man. (I can still here the music of the game playing in my
head as I type this.)  There were always
4 ghosts - Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and Clyde. I could out-run most of the 4 ghosts
– Inky, Pinky, and  Clyde – but the ghost
which usually ended my game was Blinky, the red one. Blinky and I were mortal
enemies.  Blinky had cutting eyes, swift
motions, and an intuitive ability to anticipate my every move. He strutted
around (okay, floated around) like he was an innocent creature and then…BAM!!
He’s got you. He was quick. He was mean. You will never convince me that those
ghosts could not “learn” my gaming tendencies. The only way to defeat Blinky
was outthink him, so THAT was my goal. 

I have always loved the video game
“Pac-Man.” (I already alluded to it in a previous blog!) In the game, Pac-Man’s
goal is to eat as many “dots” as possible – all the while eluding potential
life-ending ghosts who want to end his life by simply touching him. The
creators of Pac-Man give you every advantage possible including “power
pellets.” When Pac-Man eats one of the four power pellets, he becomes
invincible. He can go anywhere and do anything without the possibility of being
eaten by the ghosts…but only for about 5 seconds.  During this time, Pac-Man must gobble up as
many pellets and ghosts as possible. The ghosts who were eaten must go to jail
for a short time before being released back into the game. After the 5 seconds,
the game goes back to normal; Pac-Man, once again, becomes the hunted. The game
continues until either Pac-Man is successful in eluding the ghosts and eating
all the pellets or the ghosts win by touching him.