Another Master’s Tournament has just ended at Augusta. Some call it “pasture pool” and don’t understand why anyone would want to go chase a white ball around a course, but let me share some of the great disciplines involved in this game, for each is applicable to life itself. Someone said golf is played on a 5 ½ inch course between a person’s ears. It’s a head game. Good putting has more to do with the person’s head than the putter’s head.

We are all in the Master’s Tournament. Christ is Master (John 13:13, Col 4:1, Matt. 23:10, 2 Tim. 2:21). The difference between Augusta and Jerusalem above is that all can be winners in life and can wear the green jacket of distinction when the awards are handed out at our homecoming. “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”. Paul wrote, “I have finished my course” (2 Tim. 4:7). Sounds like he spent a lot of time on the “course”. He shot a good game. How’s your swing?

With eighteen holes, golf offers plenty of second chances. We all need chances to make comebacks. As to competition, in golf you’re not necessarily playing against the others in your foursome, you’re playing against yourself. How can I improve? How can I cut a stroke off my last round? Some golf is competition but usually golf is comradery, like taking a friend along fishing. Sometimes it’s fishing, sometimes it’s fellowship. They call it a clubhouse because you’re part of a club. No one can succeed in the faith-life who doesn’t hook up with a strong Bible-preaching local church.

Golf is a gentleman’s game, you keep your own score because you alone have to answer to God at the end of the day. Honesty, modesty, courtesy are valued. Criminals aren’t seen in the PGA like they are in the NBA. And anyone can play regardless of age. Football players have to retire young whether they want to or not, the body can only stand so much bruising, but there are many golfers who have passed the century mark. Even skill is not an issue, only desire.

The game starts with attitude, keep your shoulder’s square, your head down, but your chin up. I know that is a mental contortion. Each is individually responsible; if you don’t score well it can’t be blamed on the rest of the squad because the club is in your hand.

Practice makes “par”-fect so the driving range, time and repetition are essential. David practiced with his slingshot until he could hit a Coke bottle on a fencepost without missing before he went out into the valley to take on Goliath.

A person needs a game-plan and a pre-shot routine. Stance is important; if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything. And one must have the right grip, not too tight, not too loose. The beautiful thing about Christian grace is that God has a grip on us before we ever get a grip on Him. When you find your game falling to pieces, “get a grip!”

When I line up a shot I think of several “A” words:

• Approach. What is the best way to approach the situation?
• Aim. Am I on target or am I setting myself up for a disaster?
• Attitude. My problem is that I don’t think the shot through; of course some people think too much and end up in the same trouble.
• Ability. I have to recognize that I can only do so much with my limitations, so I shouldn’t try to be a hero. 
• When it is time to swing, I have to Accelerate through the ball. Too many believers are wimpy, not giving a hundred percent and they tend to decelerate in an urgent hour that calls for our very best effort.

And, of course, we can’t forget the hazards, the sand traps, the rough and so on. Life is not a mulligan; this is the real deal. You will face tough obstacles and “roughs”, rough weather, rough days, rough circumstances. How we respond makes all the difference. We have to learn how to turn setbacks into comebacks. Solomon wrote, 

A just man falls seven times and rises up again.
(Prov. 24:16)

Lastly, you’ve heard of the Nineteenth Hole? For some it is just a social hour, a time of unwinding. Others might do some sulking because of a lousy round, but for the child of God there is moment when time becomes eternity and the score cards are turned in. There is no retribution for those who finished their courses in Christ, only pats on the back and rewards—some lesser, some greater—but everyone is gathered home.

For me, I don’t really care about trophies and holes-in-one. I just want to know I played a “good” game. Lord, help me, especially through the current “rough”.

Copyright © Kris Jackson Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.