An Imperishable Crown

I enjoy a very occasional game of golf from time to time.  I would rather be playing golf than watching it on T.V.  But when the PGA televises the Masters hosted at Augusta National in the spring, I always tune in if I can.  There is no course more historic or well-designed in my opinion, nor a course more immaculately manicured.  It seems almost every hole on the course comes with a nickname and a slice of history.  For whatever reason, the hole placements and difficulty of the course brings out the best in golfers seeking the most-coveted of all major PGA championships.  What is the prize these men compete for besides the purse money?  A green jacket.  When Phil Mickelson won his first, he admitted later he slept in the green jacket that night.

Here is a snippet from a Wikipedia post concerning the green jacket:  "The green sport coat is the official attire worn by members of Augusta National while on the club grounds; each Masters winner becomes an honorary member of the club. Winners keep their jacket for the first year after their first victory, then return it to the club to wear whenever they visit...The green jacket is only allowed to be removed from Augusta National by the reigning champion, after which it must remain at the club."

This reminds me of 1 Cor. 9:24-27:  "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. [25] And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. [26] Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. [27] But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified."  No one just "happens" into a green jacket.  Years of hard work, dedication, and expense goes into the earning of that green jacket.  The Augusta National club does not just give those away.  It is a highly-exclusive club, and there is no application process to become a member:  it is by invitation only.  One must qualify to play in the Masters, and only past winners have an automatic invitation extended to them the following year.  At the end of all that hard work there awaits a green jacket, a jacket that over time will grow old, faded, and likely too small!  Even if a man is buried in a green jacket, he will never get the satisfaction or status he received during life.  It is a perishable crown.  It is glory which fades and passes away.

If a man can discipline himself to wake up every morning and hit golf galls for the unlikely hope of a green jacket which he will only enjoy for a season, how much more should we strive for mastery of walking humbly, righteously, and godly in this present age - we who have been offered the exceedingly precious promises of God!  1 Peter 1:3-4 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you..."  God has granted us this assurance through His own Son.  Paul brought his body under submission, denying himself so God might have all the glory.  He was not uncertain in his preparation and execution:  he knew the will of God and did all in his physical power to achieve it.  He lived a life fully committed to God in every aspect.  We do not labor to obtain this crown, but are motivated by love of God for His wonderful gifts freely bestowed upon his children.

Only one person every year is awarded a green jacket as Master's Champion at Augusta National.  God is exclusive in another way.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ and salvation through His shed blood is available to all people.  You do not need to be a world-class golfer to qualify.  Though any can respond to this gift of salvation through faith, there is only one way to receive:  Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  No one comes onto the Father but through Him.  There are many cheap and expensive imitations, many options have been offered as substitutes, but there is only one way to heaven.  The Way is exclusive, and that Way is Jesus.  He is the Door to enter into God's heavenly sheepfold.  Let us labor so hard according to God's grace that people might think we are working to earn heaven, though entrance to heaven is gained only through resting in Christ's finished work.  No one should work harder at pleasing God than His own children.