The Golf Swing!
I have never been very athletic and I never played golf until about eight years ago. My two sons and five sons–in-law all like to play. They invited me to go with them several times and I declined, then I realized that it could be a good way for us to have some time together. The biggest challenge in golf is the way you swing the club. It looks simple enough you just whack the ball and it goes way down the fairway toward the green.
Like I said I never was very athletic and like most loggers I never worry about finesse or technique, just brut strength and determination will usually get the job done. Sometimes you end up doing it several times but the logs get to the mill and the paycheck comes in the mail.
My first day at golf was a real challenge and tuned out to be a memorable experience. The second hole was a par three, about 130 yards from tee box to the green. There was a small pond right in front of the tee box with several ducks swimming on it. The boys went first and they hit the ball nice and high so it went well above the water and up and on to the green. They showed me which club to use and assured me that it was easy. I took a strong swing at the ball and it took off like a bullet but only about one foot above the ground. It hit one of the ducks with a loud thump; the duck made its last quack and flopped over dead. The poor duck never knew what hit him but died with very little suffering. For me however I have suffered ever since; whenever I am getting all set to tee off, trying to remember all the Technique that requires all of my concentration, one of the boys is liable to say “quack”. What do you think that does for your golf swing?
I am finding out the developing of a good golf swing doesn’t come real easy. It’s somewhat like developing a good walk with Jesus. Many professing Christians talk the talk but it’s not so easy to find those who are walking in tune with the Holy Spirit and in harmony with the body of Christ. We have this treasure (Christ in us) in earthen vessels that the Excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. II Cor. 4:7
Before I was born again life wasn’t nearly so complicated; I did what came natural. (See Ef.2: 2,3) I loved sin and lived a simple life of pleasing self. I simply ignored the pain I caused others and tried not to think about the consequence of my actions. Then my heart was captured by, “the man from Galilee”. When I saw his unconditional love for mankind, I was broken and repented of my selfish ways. Jesus came into my life, and I became a new creature, all old things had passed away and everything became new. (See II Cor.5: 17) Jesus had given me a new heart with a new passion. I no longer love sin in fact the new Spirit in me hates sin. This is a complete change. The heart as the driving force of this son of Adam has been transformed.
It didn’t take long to find out however that my heart had been set free but this body of flesh is still the same old corrupt self. Like Paul said: “In my flesh dwelleth no good thing.” …….. That’s why Jesus said: “ If you want to follow me you must deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me. Mt.16: 24
In the beginning of my Christian life, I observed the mature Believers walking in the power of the Holy Spirit and it seemed easy for them to walk in the victory free from the clutches of sin. Like a nice golf swing so effortlessly so effective and a pleasure to witness.
I was soon to learn that the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit is a daily battle. The flesh always makes demands that are contrary to the will of God and not in accordance to the desires of my heart. Occasionally the flesh convinces me, the desires of the flesh are still the desires of my heart. Every time I get sucked in I regret it not only because I sin against God, but, because I allow my self to be deceived into thinking that I want to fulfill the lust of the flesh. When in fact after doing so I always am confronted with the sorrow of realizing I really didn’t even want to do it in my heart of hearts. The Spirit in me hates sin but the flesh loves it.
The word of God gives us sound teaching that will enable us (if we obey) to have victory over the flesh. “This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Gal.5: 16 This of course is quite possible but it will not happen unless we set our hearts to it and truly desire it. Because, “the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Gal.5: 17
Our Heavenly Father understood the depravity of our flesh and was merciful unto us and gave us the Mosaic Law. The law however could not teach us to walk in the Spirit it could give us some basic outline and show clearly how far away from God we were without Jesus.
Jesus came with a better covenant he promised to write the law in our hearts. Heb.10:16 The only way we can walk in the spirit is by faith; faith in the promises of God. We must learn to listen to the still small voice of the Spirit that is in us. It is a still small voice not a big loud demanding voice but a voice that encourages us to simply trust in Christ who is in us, our hope of glory.
Someone with understanding of the human body designed a golf club to be swung in a very smooth and powerful manner. Good athletes understand the importance of using the whole body to execute a greater performance. Most of us novice golfers are slow in learning this. We depend too much on our arms and try to mussel the club to greater speed. Which is very ineffective.
The first thing is to know where the target is. Then you stand so that the swing of the club will be in line with the target. Then address the ball and draw back the club slowly keeping your eye on the ball, shifting your weight to your right foot when the club is all the way back you start your swing letting your body get in sink with the swing, picking up speed as you come down with your eye on the ball. The idea is not just to hit the ball but hit through it. Then you are shifting your weight to your left foot. Once you hit the ball don’t think the job is done, because you must now look again at the target and let the swing continue in that direction. If everything was done properly the ball will go flying down the fairway straight for the hole.
God created the child of God for a purpose and the child is able to do, by God’s grace, all that he was created for. Ef.2: 10 Faithful and mature Christians understand the importance of waiting upon the Spirit to work in the rest of the members of the Body Christ because it is the will of God to keep unity for effective ministry. Many times young zealous believers are slow in learning this and try to push the Saints or jump out ahead and do it on their own.
In order for us to walk in the Spirit, we need vision, Jesus’ vision; our target must be the same as His. Then we must stand (be available) and meditate on the word of God, so that all that we do is in line or in harmony with the purpose of God. Then once we have moved out in faith to do what he has commanded we must not think we have done any great thing. We have only done a reasonable service and now we must keep our eyes on Jesus and let him bring everything to the fulfillment of his purpose.
The golf swing is still a great mystery to me and I doubt very much if I ever learn it well but I do know in whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. 2 Tim. 1:12
In Jesus, James Lucas
