Revised Edition – Part Four
This has been one of the hardest series I have ever written.
I have been sitting on these pages for well over a year, unsure if I should share them. More than once, I almost kept them to myself. But with everything happening in our world today, and after much prayer, I believe the time has come.
This is not just another story. It is one of the most personal battles I have ever written about. It takes me back to one of the darkest moments of my life, when everything seemed to hang in the balance. If you missed part one, two and three, I invite you to go here , here and here and read it before continuing. It will help you understand the journey that led to this moment. My prayer is that, if you see yourself anywhere in these words, you will also see the grace of God waiting to meet you.
“Crazy thing is, out of all life done taught me… Before you get one win you gotta take a thousand losses.”
– Rob Wave –
But wait, this is the reason I became The Gambler and placed my life on the line: I needed and wanted a change. This “Normal Life” was no longer a possibility for me. I was sacrificing myself to either God or Satan in order to flee and end my life. Because I was being destroyed by this life of drinking, lying, stealing, viewing filth, cheating, obsession with girls, idolatry, and depression. These were the things I considered necessities, the things I thought I couldn’t live without, everything that only brought me more issues and hurtful interactions with others. This had to stop. The cycle of despair and the pain I was going through had to come to an end, or it was going to end me. I knew it was time to make a change and I had to take a risk if I was ever going to break out of the norm. This is why I am here; this is why I have become a pawn. Is pawn even a card term? Probably not, but it sounds good, so we are going to go with it and keep it for now. It was a risky move, but it is one that I am willing to take. I knew in my heart that I had to do something drastic if I wanted to make a difference and that is why I am here today.
Psalm 107:4 – Amplified Bible
They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region, and did not find a way to an inhabited city.
As God gathered His people, some came from the wilderness, but He guided them towards the Promised Land.
After God has already delivered us, why do we still fall back into the old ways, time after time, knowing they lead to destruction?
God is always by our side, loving us and supporting us through the dark times. His love for us is everlasting, and He is always willing to deliver us from our darkness if we simply ask. But why do so many of us remain afraid to ask Him to give us another hit, so that we can remain in this game?
We are back at the card table, Jesus is All-In. He places all His chips forward, calling the devil’s bluff. Satan looks over at me, eyes narrowed, as if he is trying to decide whether he should risk it and take the bet. He knows that if he loses, he will not only be beaten by Jesus, but he will also lose the chance to win my soul. His expression changes slightly as he realizes that the stakes are higher than he originally thought. The tension in the air is perceivable as we all wait to see what he will do.
“Lucifer, you have nothing!” the Lord yells at him in a strong, yet resoundingly confident voice. “You are aware that you will lose!”
Satan, with his air of smug arrogance, pushed all his chips onto the table and challenged Jesus into his game. The Lord did not flinch or show any sign of fear. He didn’t even look down at the devil’s hand, maintaining eye contact with Lucifer as if He was already aware of what was in his hands. I couldn’t help but peer at Lucifer’s cards out of curiosity, and I soon discovered he had nothing; he cracked.
I must remind you that I was unaware of the card game that was being played. Nevertheless, I was confident that my hand was superior to Satan’s and that I would be able to defeat him. In fact, he was so misguided that he believed he had a chance of besting the Lord.
Let us not forget that the devil is a liar! He is conniving and misleading, and his tactics and tricks can be extremely convincing. But we must remember that God is the true source of all good things and that He will not promise us something He is not willing to give. He is the Heavenly Father, and He is full of grace, mercy, and unconditional love. He will always provide us with what we need, and He will do so in abundance. Not only that, but He will also give us wisdom, guidance, and strength to walk in His truth. In the end, He is the only one who can truly deliver us from evil. It is not within His power to bring you hope and leave you with disappointment. He is a loving God, and His plan is to bring joy and peace to those who follow Him.
Ezekiel 33:11 – New International Version
Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel!’
Join me in Part Five as we go deeper into the story of The Gambler.
To Be Continued …
Coming Soon – Part Five –
Willie Torres Jr.
9/24/2026
@BeingCrazyForChrist
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