“Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your young men will see visions,
your old men will dream dreams.” (Acts 2:17, NIV)
So there was Jordan Spieth, the young Texan, coolly finishing his final round at the Masters and seizing victory as if he had known all along what was coming. Maybe he did.
Spieth is not exactly an unknown. A U.S. Junior Amateur champion as a 15-year-old in 2009, then again in 2011, Spieth caught and has held the attention of journalistic onlookers for some time. Almost universally, they have been admirers. Even David Feherty, whose own network was broadcasting the tournament again this year, jumped into the ring of partiality when he said on Sunday morning, “Just watching this kid, knowing him for the last five or six years, knowing who he is, the kind of person that he is, the sort of ambassador he’s going to be for our game, who doesn’t want him to win today? Really.”
So if you are only a marginal golf fan, new to your knowledge of this latest major champion, and you’re wondering if you should like him as much as you do, go right ahead—because Feherty said this too: “He’s won the hearts and minds of everyone on the grounds here, pretty much, and I imagine everyone who’s been watching over the last three days.” Your affections have plenty of company.
Part of the appeal is Spieth’s boyishness, balding as it may already be. When a Jordan Spieth or a Lydia Ko starts knocking on the door of their dreams—surely you saw CBS’ old video of Spieth pining for an Augusta green jacket as a 14-year-old—it’s hard not to get excited, even as jaded old codgers. Maybe it’s not too late for our own hopes to be met.
When Paul wrote to the Romans about the world in its sin-choked state, he said, “We ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies” (Romans 8:23).
Paul felt the pain of waiting for the ultimate dream, but he was not blind to what had already occurred. He went on: “For in this hope we were saved.”
You see, the way of salvation was already paved. It was as Peter had preached on the day of Pentecost from the prophet Joel. The visions of the young and the dreams of the old were fulfilled in Christ. The promises of God in the Messiah were poured out on all people through the Holy Spirit’s coming.
Welcome, then, to the dream world. Only, know this: a dream met by the work of God is complete in its reality. Salvation has come. The kingdom is among us, orchestrated by the Spirit of the Living God. And soon all creation will see the fullness of redemption. The groaning will be over.
When that happens, you can be sure the shouts will thunder through the trees at Augusta—and everywhere else that trees grow.
—
Jeff Hopper
April 13, 2015
Copyright 2015 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.