THE LESSON OF THE LOTTERY & THE POOL OF BETHESDA

In Christ there are no losers. Everyone’s a winner!

     There are those areas of our lives that call for due diligence. Among them includes gambling. When we understand that playing the Powerball lottery, we face the odds of 1 in 175,223,510. That’s a big dice to roll! And while we hear of the winners and are drawn to envy, it is wise to understand how tens of millions of people go to their graves in the false hope of winning, many of whom spent large portions of their life’s income in the vain hope of fulfilling the insatiable desire for gain. It is as Solomon said, “the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.” Eccl.1:8. So, we are admonished to hold our course to heaven: "Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith." Prov.15:16.

     Christians look for avenues by which their faith may be fortified. Prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and outreach. And those Christians who participate in gambling, whether the lottery, the casino, or poker, each of these pursuits works to weaken their faith and to cast doubt on GOD'S salvation. GOD forbids anything in the Christian’s life that threatens their resolve to hear and obey the Word of GOD, and the Voice of GOD in their hearts. And gambling is one of Satan’s masterpieces to divert attention away from the Glory of GOD and His salvation through Jesus Christ, but to focus on "things wherein there is no profit" (Jer.16:19).

     Let it be known that as “the prince of this world” Satan controls every psychic, every witch, every fortuneteller, every casino, every card game, every entertainment, every fad in music and fashion. We know this due to his own words to Christ: “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.” Lu.4:5,6. Please note: Jesus did not rebut him in his claim.

     The contrast between the world’s ways and the ways of Jesus Christ are as night and day. A precious example illustrating this is found John 5:1-4:

“After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. [v.4] For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had."

     Fact: It was not a holy angel who “troubled the water.” No no! This supernatural demonstration of healing was in direct competition with the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, and was used by Satan to lead people away from Jesus and His message of repentance and salvation. They were deceived to stake their fate at the pool of Bethesda instead of following Christ. As a result, every time the “angel” “troubled the water” the frenzied dash began. The stronger individuals trampled over the weaker men, women and children to be the first in the pool. One winner! While the rest were losers. Hopeless and tormented in their ailments, many would die on its banks. This is the game the devil plays in the world today. And most are being played the fool without even knowing it.

     But the healing of Jesus Christ was not limited to one! “When the even was come, they brought unto Him many that were possessed with devils: and He cast out the spirits with His word, and healed all that were sick.” “And great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.” Matt. 8:16; 12:15.

     GOD desires to heal all of His children from every defilement. But most are living their lives in the raging currents of pride and unbelief, even as it was in Christ’s day: “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” Matt.13:58.

     But the Bible believing Christian can take heart. The assurance of GOD in seeing us through this present life in order to inherit "everlasting life" is as sure as the light of our sun; as it is written, “By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.” Heb.7:22.