“Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:20, NIV)
I find it easy to be attracted to the high-end skills of the world’s best players. Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson hit it a long way with a driver, but we are getting our first on-Tour looks at Cameron Champ, who will have to stop for the McIlroys and DJs on the way to his own ball another 20 or 30 yards out there.
Then there is the precision of Henrik Stenson and Francesco Molinari—though it might surprise you to know the most dominant of all players when it comes to strokes gained on the approach to the green is Tiger Woods.
Would he be in heaven? He really didn’t know.And whom would you draft as your designated putter? Daniel Summerhays is exceptional at avoiding three-putts, and Jason Day easily led the Tour this past season in strokes gained putting. But many observers suggest that Inbee Park is the very best in the world on the shortest grass.
But here’s what’s most important: Falling in love with a golfer’s unique skills is like rejoicing that the spirits of the enemy submit to you. You might see some cool things, but they are not ultimate.
What’s ultimate in golf is the total on your scorecard. And what’s ultimate in this life is whether you get to the next one.
When Jesus’ disciples returned from their season of ministry, they were a happy bunch. “Even the demons submit to us in your name,” they told him. Jesus was glad for them and affirmed the authority he had given them. But then he put it all in perspective. Even the most powerful ministry isn’t worth the rejoicing that we have in a ticket to heaven.
We all love a good testimony of the work God has done in a person’s life, and I heard one recently. This man told me how it rattled his spiritual bones when someone asked him if his name was written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:27). Until then, he had thought himself to be a pretty good guy, but he had no such assurance of salvation. Would he be in heaven? He really didn’t know. And his eyes were opened to his need for Jesus.
We will always find any number of things to get excited about in this world. You might even make the perfect swing and record a hole-in-one the next time you play golf. But the rejoicing over that feat and others must take a backseat to the glorious reality of knowing we are headed to heaven, where Jesus has by his blood written our name.
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Jeff Hopper
October 8, 2018
Copyright 2018 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.