Can you remember your favorite game as a kid? Some of us may think of family game nights with classics like Monopoly or Clue while others remember heated card games such as  rummy, poker or canasta. Maybe your mind even takes you back to playing sharks and minnows with your neighbors in the community pool. If someone were to ask our boys Knox and Eli this question in 10 or 15 years, I’d bet they’d give you a less traditional answer. Whenever I ask the boys what they want to play, I always get the same response, “The mat game!”

The mat game is simple. There’s a cushioned 5×8’ mat in the middle of a large playroom and whoever touches the mat is immediately eligible to be tickled, wrestled, smacked with a foam sword or jumped on. I’m the keeper of the mat and never leave it. The boys hover around the perimeter until they get up enough courage to run across yielding a weapon of their choice. Inevitably I snatch them as they dart across the mat and wrestling ensues. As long as you’re willing to get on the mat, you’ll have a blast. However, if you choose to sit on the sidelines, the game never even starts. Hands down my favorite thing about the mat game is the identity change that comes with entering the mat. I once asked Knox in the midst of a mat game duel what his wrestling name was and he responded with, “Chicken Nugget!” He later bestowed upon me the powerful name of Daddy Dragon and his little brother became Chicken Biscuit. 

Just like in the mat game, stepping into life with God requires courage and comes with a change in our identity. There are numerous examples in the Bible when the identity change comes with a new name. We see in Genesis 17:5 that Abram becomes Abraham. In Genesis 17:15, Sarai becomes Sarah. Simon becomes Peter in John 1:42. Jacob becomes Israel in Genesis 32:28. Saul becomes Paul in Acts 13:9. The list goes on and on. God gives us courage through His spirit and promises never to leave us when we enter into his story. 

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

The mat game comes with some bumps and bruises but it’s worth it. Busted lips and a few scrapes occasionally accompany a good round of the mat game but they always want to play again. We will experience these same bumps and bruises when we choose to follow Jesus. In John 15:20 we read, “A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecute me, they will also persecute you.” This too is worth it. Jesus is the only place where we find meaning in this life and a perfect eternity. 

Identity is a big topic these days. Finding your full identity in anything other than Jesus will always lead to disappointment. There is no eternal or earthly hope outside of accepting Jesus as your savior and receiving your new identity. You may not receive a cool new name like Chicken Nugget but I can assure you that the game of your life will never begin unless you call upon the name of Jesus. 

Just fishing with my daddy, 

Ryan