"God and Golf" (Part 4)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV).

Today we are continuing to use the analogy of playing the game of golf and living the Christian life. The third thing we must master is the right swing. I have read and been instructed that the right swing in golf is from the inside out. I have been told on more than one occasion that I need to get the club in side the line of flight. Some might argue with that in the world of professional golf, however, I know it is true in our lives. We have to hit from the inside out!

The writer of our reading for this series said: let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Other translations use the word “endurance” instead of perseverance in this verse. Either is instructive. Most of us are concerned with keeping our bodies in good physical shape. We want to be able to keep on going full speed ahead. No one enjoys being less than their physical best. Yet we seem to more easily ignore letting our spiritual well being decline. The result of that condition is we swing from the outside in, rather than the inside out. The power of our lives flows from within our spirit as the Holy Spirit dwells within us and empowers us. When we fail to rely on that power we cannot long endure. Spiritual illness overtakes us.

So many people have reached the pinnacle of success in their professional lives and yet feel unfulfilled and restless. I’ve met people who have everything they have ever dreamed of possessing in the physical world and are dissatisfied with life. It rings empty and hollow for them. They have become like Solomon, a man who “had it all” – wives, concubines, wealth, the biggest army and navy, the greatest kingdom of his time, the most power – yet after possessing it all, said, “It is all vanity.” He said it was like a bubble that had burst. It just doesn’t last. It won’t endure.

The Scripture teaches us that the world and all of its attraction will pass away (cf. 1 John 2:16-17). It is temporary. Only the man who does the will of God is going to abide. That man is the one who relies on the Spirit of God within him. Without that you can never find the total fulfillment and total peace god intended for you. You’re swinging from the outside in and that puts you in the deep woods with a horrible slice or hook! I hated it when I played golf. I hate it even more when I live life! Don’t you? Join me in correcting your “swing.”