Beautiful hole. Short Par 4 up towards the clubhouse. Green is surrounded by a waterfall and pond. Hole plays mostly uphill, which will make it play longer.
We have had a great round so far so let's cap the front nine score with a good showing on this beautiful hole.
The 9th hole, by now you could be getting a little tired as it has been almost two hours on the course.
You could also be a little frustrated by your score and current skill level.
The good thing about #9 is it will play into (towards) the clubhouse. So after you finish this hole you can get a drink, maybe a bite to eat, and get your focus and energy back.
By now if this is your first time out, (or you're one of those people I referred to earlier in the round that didn't think that golf was, in fact, a sport) you are probably a little tired.
You may have thought all you needed to do was go buy some "sticks" and go hit a little white ball and drive around in the cart all day.
NEWS FLASH...owning golf clubs does not make you a golfer. In the same way owning a basketball does not make you Michael Jordan, or having a tree in your backyard does not make you a forest ranger.
You might look like a golfer, but playing takes effort, it takes focus, it takes discipline.
Just because you own the clubs, maybe the shoes, maybe you are even great playing it on the Wii or Xbox 360, but you are not a "golfer" till you hit the course.
Similar things happen in the church today. People show up to church on Sundays, but what do they do on the other six days of the week?
Do our actions show we went to church?
Do others see it?
You might "look" like a Christian, but it takes action on your part. You have to accept the gift...
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Emphasis added.
It would be quite easy to go to church and talk a good game on Sundays....but quite another to head out on the "course" Monday - Saturday and show it.
It was once said, "It is easy to talk the talk, but quite different to walk the walk."
Being a Christian, following the narrow road (Matthew 7:13-14), everyday takes sacrifice. We have to willingly look towards Christ with every action and thought.
2 Corinthians 10:5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Does that mean we will be popular? ...probably not.
Does that mean our life will be easy? ...probably not.
Does that mean we will have to sacrifice and be persecuted from time to time? ...Absolutely YES!
Look at the sacrifice of the rich young ruler....
The sacrifice to him was too great.
Matthew 19:16-22 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"
"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."
"Which ones?" the man inquired.
Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,'and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'"
"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"
Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Was it too much? NO WAY. He gave up eternity for 60 or 70 years here on Earth. What a shame.
So what must we do? We must be on the "course" (narrow road), we must do our best, we must mirror Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:27 No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
Let's all be dilligent. Let's walk the walk and the talking will take care of itself.
Awesome hole! On the green in two (barely...almost rolled off the green in the drink). Long birdie putt was good. Nice front nine. Even after nine.
Let's hit the clubhouse...then on to #10
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