Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2, ESV)
In the foreword of Dr. David Cook’s book “Golf’s Sacred Journey,” Tom Lehman talks about the eight words Dr. Cook spoke that “struck a nerve deep within his golfing soul.” Those eight words were “find what you do well and perfect it.”
Dr. Cook discusses how this differs from spending your golf life searching for the perfect swing. Tom Lehman also says that the golf swing can be summed up in one word: repeatability. I totally agree with that, and most golfers probably would.
Another word that has become very important to me in trying to perfect what I do well in the golf swing is simplicity. These days, I don’t have as much time to practice as I used to, so all I work on with my golf swing is to make it as simple as possible. “Simple” works and it is repeatable. That’s what I’m always striving for. Golf is a simple game; it’s not easy, but it is simple.
Throughout human history, there are examples of men trying to make simple things that work well more complex and less reliable.
I grew up in a rural farming area, and farming is another very simple but not easy pursuit. You plant, care for, and water the seeds; they grow up, and you harvest the crop. It’s pretty simple, but most farmers would tell you that, like a golf swing, it sounds simple, but a lot must go right for it to work well.
Today’s verse tells us that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. God’s standard is perfection, but we all know we can never attain it, at least not until his second coming.
It is a great comfort to know that Jesus perfected our faith. Other translations of the Bible refer to him as the “founder” and “finisher” of our faith. Jesus died as a substitute for us so that we might be acceptable to God and perfect before him.
So, let’s find what we do well in our faith and work to perfect it. The biggest part of that is believing in Jesus Christ and what he did for us on the cross. He is the founder and finisher of our faith. What did Jesus say on the cross? “It is finished.”
I may never perfect my golf swing, but I will serve the Lord, knowing that Jesus has already perfected my faith!
Prayer: Give ‘em Heaven today, LINKS Players!! Amen.