To say that golf is a Kingdom game would certainly be a stretch. However, there are many aspects of the game: objectives of the game, etiquette, rules, principles of the golf swing for instance that include valuable parallels to this life in Christ that we live here on earth.
Think about it. Golf is a game made up of eighteen different challenges, or holes. Each ‘hole’begins with a starting point, the tee box, and has as its objective a destination, a 4.25” in diameter hole in the middle of an area known as a green-marked with a flagstick. Some ‘holes’are longer than others and each and every hole has obstacles along the way to challenge the golfers ability to achieve the designated expectation. Interestingly there is usually a clear path from every starting point to the destination, known as the fairway (Yahshua is the way, the truth and the life. There is no other way to the Father except through Him…John 14:6). If you happen to miss the fairway (the clear path to your objective), you encounter all kinds of obstacles including trees, ponds, lakes, rivers, marshes, swamps, sand bunkers, rocky areas, high grass and other nefarious areas too sinister to even mention.
So the simple object of the game of golf is to hit a spherical-shaped ball with a stick from a starting point to a designated area that includes a hole in the ground. Get the ball in the hole in the fewest strokes possible and there you have it-the ‘game’of golf.
Now life may not be explained so concisely, but I’m pretty sure the parallels are quite evident. Life has a beginning point with a destination or vision in mind. However, along the way there are obstacles that challenge one’s ability to see the vision fulfilled. Quality of life is determined by how one responds to unrealized expectations, disappointment and a willingness to overcome adversity and stay the course toward the completion of the vision. The Scriptures refer to this as the ‘saving of the soul’-aligning your mind (thinker), will (chooser) and emotions (feeler) with the Word and Will of Yahweh. Faith is when you come into complete agreement with what Yahweh says and then act upon that which you hear and believe in your heart and have declared with your voice – prophesy.
Receiving Christ not only removes our sin and reconciles us to Yahweh, our heavenly Father, but also identifies our uniqueness in the body of Christ and empowers us to fulfill the dreams and visions that Yahweh purposed for us-despite the obstacles and challenges along the way. We are complete in Christ and have received His fullness! Therefore, our ‘success’is determined by our relationship with Him-the Creator of the game of life.
So, no matter where the ball may end up on the golf course of life, we continue to keep our eye on the flagstick, and our faith in the One who saved and sent us! FORE!!!
