For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. (Romans 5:15, ESV)
We arrived in St. Andrews last Wednesday afternoon. My wife, though not a golfer, has lived with me for more than 30 years, so she appreciates well enough the importance of the place. Plus, she may be the biggest fan ever of the 1980s classic, Chariots of Fire, so the beach at St. Andrews is a prize unto itself for her.
Our GPS led us right to Golf Road, and we wound behind the R&A Clubhouse, circled the large practice green, slid past that long stretch of beach, and made our way into the Links car park, near the first tees of the New and Jubilee Courses. Then we took to foot.
Our walk led us back alongside the massive Himalayas putting green and then the first fairway of the Old Course, the Old Pavilion, the Starter’s Box, and right behind the first tee, where we saw… any number of bad golf swings.
Many people say they have a religious experience when they come to St. Andrews, and I was now having mine. “Why are these people allowed to play here?” I asked myself. The judgment of the Pharisees had kicked in.
The entrance to the narrow road is not closed. By God’s grace, it is swung open to even the worst of sinners.To explain fully, the Old Course does have a cap. They require men to have a handicap index no higher than 24. In other words, if you can break 100, you get to play. Still, 100? Tiger Woods has won The Open here, and Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead, and Bobby Jones. Good heavens, folks, the Tom Morrises, Old and Young, called this home. Who are all these interlopers?
It is religion that discriminates like this. It decides who’s in and who’s out. It plays us and them. And this is what I was doing. How could that swing be given one of the Old Course’s coveted tee times? My thoughts were shockingly akin to those who would say, “How could God let that one into his graces?”
God’s graces. God’s grace. So much bigger than religion, these are. So much bigger and so much brighter.
We cannot dismiss Jesus’ words about the narrowness of the road that leads to life. The enemy will employ many kinds of attempts to draw us from that road to his wide, destructive highway. But the entrance to the narrow road is not closed. By God’s grace, it is swung open to even the worst of sinners. Yes, even to judgmentalists like me!
Long before golf came to St. Andrews—indeed, long before the reputed remains of St. Andrew came to St. Andrews—Jesus came to Andrew, the Galilean fisherman, and said to him, “Follow me.” Here was a rabbi who knew the grace of the Father, and he dared to welcome those others discounted. Jesus has extended that same invitation to us. No matter who we are, we may follow him.
—
Jeff Hopper
August 20, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
Photo by the author