But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners. (Romans 4:6 NLT)
If heaven exists, how does anyone make it in? This question haunts every honest human, even so-called atheists.
This devotional is for golfers, so can professional golf’s system of qualifying offer insight into making it through the famous Pearly Gates? The recent President’s Cup got me thinking some new thoughts.
The team is composed of six players who qualify on “Points,” while six more Captain’s Picks fill out the team. Some ‘earn’ their way onto the team- while others are ‘chosen.’
Most people seem to think that Heaven has the same system. Heaven’s population is a Hybrid of some who qualify on Points. These are the really good people. Mother Teresa or maybe your grandmother comes to mind.
And then, just like the President’s Cup, there is another group who do not qualify on the point system. These folks are pretty good but still ‘sinners.’ They hope to be ‘chosen’ based on a murky system of mercy that can get complicated. The six deserving members of heaven’s team are joined by those chosen by the Captain (“The Lord God Almighty”), all thanks to the mercy and the grace of God.
Even these chosen ones, however, are usually the type whose good deeds have outweighed their bad ones. Therefore, it is all a mix of merit and mercy, and heaven is a mixture of deserving ‘good guys’ and undeserving but chosen ‘sinners.’
All seem to agree that evil people like Hitler do not qualify, sort of like all agree that 27-handicap golfers do not deserve a spot on the PGA Tour, let alone the President’s Cup.
But maybe the real PGA Q school teaches us something, too. Tour players all look back and agree that the most nerve-racking days of their lives were trying to prove they were ‘good enough’ to earn the Tour card.
There is no Captain’s Pick for the PGA Tour. There is zero ‘grace’. No one is ‘chosen’. Everyone has to prove, on the golf course with a real pencil and a real scorecard, that they are ‘good enough’ to be there.
And by the way, even after you ‘qualify,’ the PGA has rules about how to ‘keep your card.’ It is not good enough to get there. It is hard work to stay there. Ouch.
So, just in case you have fallen for the “President’s Cup” version of hybrid heavenly qualifiers, or even worse, for some Q-school version of heaven, let me give you some good news. Both methods have it wrong. Eternal life is not a President’s Cup or Q school.
No one is good enough for heaven. Heaven is a free gift for anyone who puts their trust in Jesus. He died and paid the penalty for our sins. He rose from the dead to prove that we can have eternal life. Listen to Paul’s wise counsel to the Country Club of Rome (Romans 5:6)
“When we were utterly helpless (42 over par on the front nine), Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners (hackers)… And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.” (Romans 5:6,8 NLT).
Thank God. There is hope for us all. All who trust.
Prayer: O Lord God Almighty, thank you for sending Jesus. Today, I trust Him and Him alone for life eternal. Amen.