Billy Graham 1955 Sermon that refers to the Painting "Checkmate"

By Chris Major

President, Novato Chess Club

The Chess Master and the Painting

Featuring an excerpt from Billy Graham

Billy Graham once shared a powerful story connecting faith and the game of chess:

“There is a picture of a chess game hanging in Paris. On one side of the painting is the Devil, and on the other side is a lad about sixteen years of age. They are playing chess. The Devil has a leering, triumphant expression on his face. He has just licked this boy at chess, and the boy is sitting there with his head bowed and big tears trickling down his cheeks. The Devil has just won in the game of life over this lad. He has no strength, he has no way out, and he has given up. The title of the picture is ‘Checkmate.’ He had him.

A famous chess player came through one day. He looked at the painting. He felt sorry for the boy and he hated the looks of the Devil.

He began to study the board where the men were placed, and all of a sudden he shouted: ‘Son, I have found a move, one move… if you will make that move you can lick the Devil.’ He forgot himself, he forgot it was a painting—he was so engrossed in it.

…But I believe there is One looking down from above who looks upon the board and says to you and me: There is a move, there is one move that you can make, and you can win! That move is toward Jesus Christ.”

My Thoughts

That story captures something every chess player understands—just when a position looks completely lost, there can still be one move that changes everything.

Easter is about that exact idea.

It’s about hope when things feel finished. It’s about the belief that no position in life is truly beyond redemption. Just like on the chessboard, what matters is not how bad things look—but whether we’re willing to keep searching for that next move.

So this Easter, take a moment. Sit down with family. Play a game of chess. And remember—no matter the position, there’s always a move.

Happy Easter.

— Chris Major

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