The first hole on any golf course has it's good and bad attributes.
Three good things about being on hole #1:
1. First and foremost you have the freedom and privilege to be out on the course playing.
2. The score card in your cart is blank. You start out clean with no marks/strokes against you yet.
3. You will spend the next few hours playing a game (frustrating as it can sometimes be) with some one you will enjoy playing with and get to know better through the process.
The bad/frustrating/stressful attributes:
1. That first shot off the tee box. It is sometimes hard to hit a good first shot for fear of failure. There are more people watching you tee off on hole #1 than will watch the remainder of your day. If you're like most, you probably didn't prepare yourself for the shot.....you're tight (forgot to stretch) and you probably didn't warm up enough (if at all).
The pressure to perform well right off the bat causes most to come up with excuses for the shot before they hit it. "My back really is bothering me this morning." "I tweaked my arm last night hope it doesn't bother my game.", etc....
Most people are busy thinking up reasons/excuses for why they might play "off" than really concentrating on the fundamentals and playing the game (Doing the best you can)
Can you see the parallels with Christianity?
First of all if you are in certain areas you have the freedom to be a Christ-follower and share/meet and discuss with others. Once you turn your life over to Christ you score card is wiped clean.
Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.Your partner is this endeavor is none other than Christ. Not only can you consider Him your caddie (giving you pointers and lessons learned) but spending time with Him will help you to know Him better. He has been here and lived a sinless life, who better to get advice and learn from? He has given us His all to make sure we finish well. And thankfully He is driving the cart.
Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
As far as the pressure we feel when we're starting off on something new, if we are prepared, we can show people how it is not anything that we do on our own, but the power of Christ working through us that helps us be who we are and accomplish the tasks set before us.
Philippians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
1 Timothy 4:12 Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
Yes the first hole can be mentally taxing and somewhat challenging, but we seemed to make it alright. Were we perfect on the first hole? No we shot a 5, so bogey on this one. But we know that with persistence, diligence and practice we can continue to improve.
This is a long and difficult course at times. We will have to focus and concentrate on the task at hand.
Well on to hole #2. Feeling better after getting the first hole complete and only being a stroke behind. This one is a short Par 4 with a stepped green.......
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