God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor. 5:21)
Sam Snead was unforgettable in many ways – the straw hat, the silky smooth swing, and his one-liners. For example: “That putt was so fast I had to hit it with my shadow.”
Aside from his legendary personality, Sam’s record speaks for itself. Let’s take a moment to review some of the highlights. Along with Tiger Woods, Snead holds the record for the most PGA Tour victories with 82. He won seven majors and was on eight different Ryder Cup teams.
Sam was well past his prime when I was growing up in the ’60s, but he still pulled off some impressive achievements. He ranks as the oldest golfer to win a PGA Tour event, claiming the Greensboro Open at age 52 – for a record 8th time!
Ten years later, he finished second at the 1974 Los Angeles Open. In 1979, Snead became the youngest golfer to shoot his age in a PGA event with a 67 at the Quad Cities Open. Sam returned the next day and fired a 66 to prove it wasn’t a fluke.
As impressive as all of these facts are, I find another one even more amazing. During his illustrious career, Sam carded a hole-in-one 34 times. While that statistic is extraordinary, it is even more remarkable that he accomplished it with every club in his bag except the putter! That’s almost beyond comprehension. No doubt about it, Sam Snead was one of a kind.
Speaking of something extraordinary, let’s turn to what happened at Calvary’s Cross on Good Friday. Jesus, the Son of God who left the glory of heaven to become a humble servant on earth, willingly faced excruciating torture and death.
On that day, the most loving of all men endured the worst of human hatred, allowing the sins of all humanity to be put upon him. Incredibly, he did all of this for you and me.
Early in my walk of faith, I considered the Cross the sacrifice that allowed me to be forgiven for my sins. But I eventually realized that what happened that day was even more amazing because I am not only forgiven, but I am justified.
What does that mean? Billy Graham said this: “Being justified means more than being forgiven. I can say, “I forgive you,” but I can’t justify you. But God not only forgives the past, He clothes you in His righteousness as though you never sinned.” The great 19th-century preacher Charles Spurgeon sums it up as follows: “You stand before God as if you were Christ because Christ stood before God as if he was you.”
I’ve read about it, written about it, and genuinely believe it, but I have to confess I still have difficulty comprehending the depth of love and mercy that Jesus demonstrated on the Cross. Others have said that this means I am so flawed that Christ had to die for me, but I am so loved that he was glad to die for me. Amen!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, it’s hard to comprehend this amazing gift of your Son Jesus Christ, who came from heaven to earth so that we might go from earth to heaven. Please help us live a life worthy of that gift that brings glory to your Name and your Kingdom.