Struggle is an interesting practicality. Struggle not only requires diligence and resources, but foremost it requires perseverance. Struggles rarely last a short time. In the Book of Daniel, we are given a glimpse of the conflicts that are going on in heavenly places. That several thousand years have passed since Daniel wrote his book to us would not indicate any cessation of conflicts, but that the STRUGGLE has been going on with full force and, indeed, has increased in severity due to what the prophecies speak of by the messenger to Daniel and what the Book of Revelation of Jesus Christ speaks of. Things get far worse before they get better.

Perseverance is such a vital part of being victorious in struggle that I would say that without it no victory IS possible.

In chess there is a recent development concerning the Sophia Rules (first applied at the Mtel Masters tournament in Sophia, Bulgaria in 2005), which regards in the main, the elimination of draws within the first 15 moves. And it was announced the other day that the Anand/Topalov World Championship match will not allow draws. I, for one, find this rule encouraging. Where in life are you allowed a draw if you get tired? In real life, let your guard down and the other guy gets the win. No ifs-and-or-buts about it. Chess should be no different.

William Gurnall in his seminal work, “A Treatise of The Whole Armour of God” details some of the practicalities of perseverance for the Believer in Christ Jesus. He writes:

“Indeed there is no duty in the Christian’s whole course of walking with God, or acting for God but is lined with many difficulties, which shoot like enemies through the hedges at him, while he is marching towards heaven: so that he is put to dispute every inch of ground as he goes. They are only a few noble-spirited souls, who dare take heaven by force, that are fit for this calling. For the further proof of this point, see some few pieces of service that every Christian engageth in. First – The Christian is to proclaim and prosecute an irreconcilable war against his bosom sins… Second – The Christian is to walk singularly, not after the world’s guise, Rom. 12:2… Third - The Christian must keep on his way to heaven in the midst of all the scandals that are cast upon the ways of God… Fourth – The Christian must trust in a with­draw­ing God, Isa. 50:10…”

And here I would pause and add the fifth detail in it’s entirety. It cuts to the quick of the matter.

“Fifth - The believer is to persevere in his Christian course to the end of his life: his work and his life must go off the stage together. This adds weight to every other difficulty of the Christian’s calling. We have known many who have gone into the field, and liked the work of a soldier for a battle or two, but soon have had enough, and come running home again, but few can bear it as a constant trade. Many are soon engaged in holy duties, easily persuaded to take up a profession of religion, and as easily persuaded to lay it down, like the new moon, which shines a little in the first part of the night, but is down before half the night is gone—lightsome professors in their youth, whose old age is wrapped up in thick darkness of sin and wickedness. O, this persevering is a hard word! this taking up the cross daily, this praying always, this watching night and day, and never laying aside our clothes and armour, I mean indulging ourselves, to remit and unbend in our holy waiting on God, and walking with God. This sends many sorrowful away from Christ, yet this is a saint’s duty, to make religion his every-day work, without any vacation from one end of the year to the other.”

And here Mr. Gurnall gives two uses or application to these five resolutions. I will only offer here the first sentence of each. “Use First - This gives us reason why there are so many professors and so few Christians indeed; so many that run and so few obtain; so many go into the field against Satan, and so few come out conquerors; because all have a desire to be happy, but few have courage and resolution to grapple with the difficulties that meet them in the way to their happiness… Use Second - Let this then exhort you, Christians, to labour for this holy resolution and prowess, which is so needful for your Christian profession, that without it you cannot be what you profess…”

It is encumbent upon us as Believers not to get tempted in believing that the warfare we are called to engage in is momentary wisps of arrows, like a choking, plastic smoke followed momentarily by a breeze that whisks it out of the way so that we can breathe easier. The warfare we are called to engage in is constant, ruthless and strong. There are no furloughs, no days of peace in the midst of the fierce battle being waged by the enemy of God Almighty. We are to stand in the breach, diligently placed in the watchtowers, wearing the full armor of God given for this purpose.

“A hypocrite may show some mettle at hand, some courage for a spurt in conquering some difficulties; but he will show himself a jade at length.” – W. Gurnall

I used to take ibuprofen for normal-course headaches. One day I played a game with a mild headache and found that during the course of the struggle, my headache disappeared. I have tried it several times since and every time, the pain disappears. There are aspects of struggle that clear our minds of pain, yet are not themselves peaceful. I, for one, do not find peace at the chessboard, but a pleasantness in doing my best against an opponent. God is extremely gracious and does not mean for us to be shell-shocked through every day of our lives. Afterall, He gave the Sabbath to the Jews and fulfilled that rest to His Church in His Son at Calvary (Hebrews 4), so perseverance is not being in a constant seige mentality, but being diligent and wary of what’s happening. Like the Jews repairing the walls of Jerusalem, to have one spear in hand at the ready and another on the trowel (Nehemiah).

So, what’s all this have to do with chess? Everything, it turns out. The struggle of the chessboard should improve our worldview concerning Reality. It should give us practice in maintaining a mind diligent and knowledgeable of our surroundings and God’s Word regarding our responses. A mind that recognizes lex talionis but renders it powerless with agapé that we may be sincere and unoffending until the day of Christ to the glory and praise of God.

Chess should be so played that it reminds us of our obligations towards God in Christ Jesus, that it increases our faith, and continues to reveal the struggles we must endure for His sake that He may not be put to shame, but exalted in such an unworthy one as us; those redeemed by the Power of His Blood and forever grateful to His finished work on the Cross that has given us Life eternal.