The King Always Has One More Move

Life may look like checkmate, but God still has one more move. What appears final is often a set up for the breakthrough He’s preparing.

Hanging in the Lourve Museum in Paris is a painting that most people walk right past.

It’s not a famous painting like the Mons Lisa or as grand as most, but it carries one of the most powerful lessons I’ve ever heard.

The painting called Checkmate shows two people sitting at a chessboard: one is clearly distressed, His face pale and defeated, and across from him, Satan smiling thinking he,s won.

The title says it all: Checkmate. The game is over. Or so it seems…

But what may seem like the end, we need to take a closer look.

There’s a truth about this painting that tells a different story -the real story:

Years ago a chess grandmaster visited the museum as part of a tour while the painting was on display.

He stood in front of the painting letting everyone else walk by as he was looking closer he realized something. The tour guide came back to him, telling him to move along. The grandmaster told him ‘someone either needs to modify the painting or change its title.

Because the King has one more move.

I’m sure we have all experienced something like the man in the painting.

Trapped.

Out of options.

Certain that your story has reached an end.

You’ve done everything in your power and it feels like defeat is staring you in the face.

But remember just because it looks like the game is over it doesn’t mean it is.

God still has one move left, even when you can’t see it.

Think about Joseph, sitting in a prison cell after being betrayed by his brothers. Or Daniel, surrounded by lions in a dark cave. Or even Lazarus four days in a tomb, while everyone else was mourning.

Each of their stories looked like checkmate.

But they weren’t finished. God was still moving the pieces.

You might not see the move yet.

You might not understand the strategy.

But you can trust the King who is still at the table.

So, don’t give up. Don’t close the story before He’s done writing it.

Because no matter how hopeless the board looks one truth still remains.

The King always has one more move.