One of my favorite passages of the Bible is Colossians 3:17 and 3:23. The New International Version says “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, verse 17a.” Or with a similar concept, “whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, verse 23.” If there was such a thing as the New Video Game Translation, this is my best interpretation of this passage. Put all your effort and focus into each game, hitting the reset button if necessary. Keep on trying until you reach the next level. Don’t stop there. Rather, keep going until you know every move, every aspect and every secret of each game. Pass on your knowledge and move on to the next adventure, challenge and further versions.
If young people dedicated their lives to Christ like they do with video games, the next great awakening would commence. Likewise, if prayer replaced countless hours in front of a computer, game system or television screens, endless lives could be transformed. However, living in the world and not being lead by it is another story. Achieving balance in life is crucial, maximizing your time with fun, pleasure and work. When these games become the Lord of young people’s lives, behaviors often change for the worse as an addictive nature engrosses their minds. The only way to crack this video game mentality is through the giver of life, James 1:18. Don’t ever stop believing that young men and women can change, Romans 12:1-2. Place your requests before the Lord so that this mindset can be broken, 2 Corinthians 4:4.
by Jay Mankus
