Golfers are no more than one putt away from improving their golf games.
Most golfers, however, do not see this simplistic approach to golf that could enhance their games and improve their scores because they are blinded by their own pride, and deceived by their own egos.
As it is in golf, so it is in life:
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2nd Corinthians 4: 3-4)
The gospel of Christ is hidden from people by Satan, and their eyes are blinded by the Prince of Darkness because he does not want them to know the truth about Christ.
Therefore, the devil runs interferences in front of their eyes to distract their attention; and the devil also influences them to focus on themselves and to believe that their religion is sufficient for their salvation; or that water baptism is sufficient; or that they will believe that they are naturally good people and far above sin. Yet, the Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3: 23)
Just as making that one putt is the simplistic approach to golf, confession of sin to God is the simplistic approach to salvation through Christ Jesus.
The prideful golfer, however, will reject the discipline of putting, but will believe that he can make up the difference in lost strokes by driving the ball further off the tee; and the prideful sinner will believe that he can reject Christ and make up the difference in going to heaven by giving more money to his church or religious institution, or by his performance of more good works without confessing that he is a sinner.
The prideful golfer will not admit that his golf game stinks, just as the sinner will not admit that his life is a disaster---while both keep trying to improve in their respective arenas because they are blinded by their own reflections in the mirror. The golfer will not ask a golf pro for help with his golf game, and the sinner will not ask God to help with his sin. Both will continue to believe that they will finish the course par for the day because they have deceived themselves into believing that they are kings and queens of golf as well as kings and queens of life. But at the 18th hole, both will finish the course one putt short of par.
Golfers will spend thousands of dollars on golf equipment to enhance their bloated self-images, when, in truth, all they need to do is improve their putts: while the sinner will spend thousands of dollars on clothes and other possessions to improve his bloated self-image in the mirror.
For the sinner, however, it's not his image in the mirror that needs more polish, but rather it is his soul that needs God; for he has no image of God within himself, nor within his life, because he has rejected the very cure for his sin, which only Christ can cleanse.
Therefore, the prideful golfer will keep buying more golf equipment, and the sinner will keep buying more clothes and combing his hair.
Most golfers, however, do not see this simplistic approach to golf that could enhance their games and improve their scores because they are blinded by their own pride, and deceived by their own egos.
As it is in golf, so it is in life:
"But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." (2nd Corinthians 4: 3-4)
The gospel of Christ is hidden from people by Satan, and their eyes are blinded by the Prince of Darkness because he does not want them to know the truth about Christ.
Therefore, the devil runs interferences in front of their eyes to distract their attention; and the devil also influences them to focus on themselves and to believe that their religion is sufficient for their salvation; or that water baptism is sufficient; or that they will believe that they are naturally good people and far above sin. Yet, the Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3: 23)
Just as making that one putt is the simplistic approach to golf, confession of sin to God is the simplistic approach to salvation through Christ Jesus.
The prideful golfer, however, will reject the discipline of putting, but will believe that he can make up the difference in lost strokes by driving the ball further off the tee; and the prideful sinner will believe that he can reject Christ and make up the difference in going to heaven by giving more money to his church or religious institution, or by his performance of more good works without confessing that he is a sinner.
The prideful golfer will not admit that his golf game stinks, just as the sinner will not admit that his life is a disaster---while both keep trying to improve in their respective arenas because they are blinded by their own reflections in the mirror. The golfer will not ask a golf pro for help with his golf game, and the sinner will not ask God to help with his sin. Both will continue to believe that they will finish the course par for the day because they have deceived themselves into believing that they are kings and queens of golf as well as kings and queens of life. But at the 18th hole, both will finish the course one putt short of par.
Golfers will spend thousands of dollars on golf equipment to enhance their bloated self-images, when, in truth, all they need to do is improve their putts: while the sinner will spend thousands of dollars on clothes and other possessions to improve his bloated self-image in the mirror.
For the sinner, however, it's not his image in the mirror that needs more polish, but rather it is his soul that needs God; for he has no image of God within himself, nor within his life, because he has rejected the very cure for his sin, which only Christ can cleanse.
Therefore, the prideful golfer will keep buying more golf equipment, and the sinner will keep buying more clothes and combing his hair.
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