image via: funnyjunk.com

Every time I hear or read the name President Donald Trump, I think of some of the card games we played growing up. In some of those games a certain card or suit had a designation of power over the other cards (suits). There is a bit of irony in his name, in that many times President Trump considers himself to have the upper hand or final say. I suppose that comes from his business background and  – strong – personality.

The term trump card has become an idiom in our culture. It communicates the idea of something capable of making a decisive difference when used at just the right moment. For example you may be having a discussion at work about a certain project. Things seem to be going one direction when someone provides a piece of information that completely changes the direction of the project to their favor. That piece of information is a “trump card.”

The Ultimate Trump Card

Imaging that you are standing before God and the story of your life plays out before you. The prosecuting attorney is the accuser – Satan. He points out every sin, every idle word, every time you did what you were not supposed to do and every time you did not do what you were supposed to do. He highlights the lies you told, the times you cheated at school or work. He even shows what you were thinking. You grow increasingly embarrassed. As the timeline of your life progresses, you realize – really realize – how terrible you are. Your embarrassment turns to shame. Shame turns to feelings of guilt. You cannot bear to lift your head much less get off your knees before God.

The gavel sounds and you are ready for sentencing. Before you can even think of looking up your Advocate, your Lawyer, your Friend, the Savior Jesus the Christ speaks. “Father, this one belongs to me. Take my perfect righteousness and place it in his account. I take his sin as My own. This one is covered by my blood.”

The Father speaks, “Well done, enter my rest.” You look and the Father is speaking to you. Jesus was your trump card. At just the right moment He stepped in. Grace wins every time!

“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6-11)

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

-Scott