We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4, NIV)
As a guest on a course I’d never played before, I was already at a disadvantage. It wasn’t the match I cared about, as it was only the kinda-sorta-keeping-track variety of play. But I like to know what a golf course is throwing at me, and you can’t always tell the first time around.
Add to this first challenge the fact that my host was prepping for a competition and needed to play from all the way back. I don’t have the clubhead speed to stand on 7,000-yard tees anymore, but I also don’t carry much of a golf ego these days either, so I’m fine at the tips if I don’t have a bunch of forced carries. This course was gentle enough in that way.
Some golfers play the back tees to “see the whole course.” When we step back to see the complete identity we are given in Jesus, we must not forget that we are resurrected with him.So where did this leave me? With modified expectations. If I missed a drive on a longer par-4, I figured I’d play the hole like a par-5 and try to wedge my way to par. That’s OK every once in a while. It allows me to work on another part of my game. But you know the truth: pars and birdies are a lot more fun.
We live in a time when it is not uncommon to hear people say they will be satisfied with death. They have a bury-me-in-the-ground-and-that’s-it view of dying. This philosophy says, “Live your life as best you can, as long as you can, and take death when it comes,” then asks, “What more can we expect from our days on earth?”
Well, as those who know Jesus, we can answer, “A lot more!”
When the apostles looked back on the fullness of Christ, they could never separate his death from his resurrection. Yes, his death was necessary to provide atonement for our sin. But death is the enemy, the consequential result of Adam’s fall, the wages of sin. In God’s perfect design, it was never meant to be the end result of a life on earth. So just as with sin, Christ came to defeat it. In fact, what good would the atonement of sin be without a release from its dreadful result?
Some golfers play the back tees to “see the whole course.” When we step back to see the complete identity we are given in Jesus, we must not forget that we are resurrected with him. We’re not moving lifelessly toward death; we are living newly and abundantly by his power. What a hopeful expectation that is!
—
Jeff Hopper
October 11, 2019
Copyright 2019 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
Other devotions in this series:
1 Who Am I? Created by God
2 Who Am I? Children of God
3 Who Am I? Crucified with Christ
5 Who Am I? Born Again
6 Who Am I? A Witness for Christ
7 Who Am I? A Citizen of Heaven
8 Who Am I? A Fearless One
9 Who Am I? Free in Christ
10 Who Am I? A Victor
11 Who Am I? Gifted for Good
12 Who Am I? God’s Friend
13 Who Am I? Complete in Christ