“This is eternal life that they may know you the only true God… and Jesus Christ who you have sent.” (John 17:3, ESV)
Before we look at how one becomes a Links Player, please allow me a moment to address how we first arrived at the name, Links Players.
From the beginning almost 40 years ago now, we wanted a Links Player to contrast a Links Spectator. A player is in on the action. In this case, he or she is normally someone on the links, banging the ball around. But this person also uses their recreation for the glory of God. So, someone linked to both God and golf. (Over time, as Links Fellowships have grown, this has also included people like some of you: those who don’t play golf themselves, but who enjoy the company of those who do—friends and family in club settings.)
In a nutshell, Links Players get into the game. They aren’t watchers, they’re players.
So how can I become a Links Player?
Through a process.
First by accepting an invitation from Jesus to “come and see.”
Andrew and John were two young fishermen. They met Jesus almost 2,000 years ago near the bank of the Jordan River, which still flows from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea.
“Where are you staying?” they asked.
“Come and see,” he said.
Andrew and John did come. They did see Jesus that day and consistently the next three years. During their apprenticeship they learned not only who he was, but what he did and how to do what he did.
They, of course, were not golfers. But they modeled what Links Players are about. One of the most important qualities of Links Players is that they possess a personal relationship with Jesus.
The second part of this process centers on the verb believe. The Greek word, pisteuo, is defined by James Strong as “entrust (especially one’s spiritual well-being to Christ)… commit.” John wrote what some call the Golden Text of the Bible: “God so loved the world he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). A sister word to believe is the Greek word, metanoia, or repentance, which means “change of mind.” We turn from self-serving life to God-serving life. This begins with belief in what is often called the Easter message—the sin-conquering death and life-giving resurrection of Jesus.
The third part of the process is confession.
To become a player in God’s kingdom requires new mindset, a step downward. I must humble myself. Paul, the greatest of all missionaries, said, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV).
Saved from what?
Saved from eternal separation from God.
Saved from self.
Saved from the world’s temptations and concerns.
Saved out of heartbreak and lifted into a kingdom of joy and purpose.
Have you made such a confession? Dear beloved friend and reader, can you say with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord”? Do you believe in your heart God has raised him from the dead?
If you can say and mean it in heart, you are a player. You are on the path to heaven. Not because I say so, but on the basis of “the Word of our God which stands forever” (Isaiah 40:8).
Links Players have taken up this process. Because we are apprentices, we’ll always keep learning. But in belief and confession, we have started the walk.
Join us. It’s free. Jesus our King paid the ultimate price to make it possible.
—
Jim Hiskey
January 22, 2018
Copyright 2018 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.