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Golf in the Kingdom: Tee the Ball Up
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Tee the Ball Up
It was a spectacular morning. The sun was just over the horizon in the eastern sky. The dew was still
glistening on the grass and hanging among the trees along the fairway. I finished my last bit of coffee and
walked up to the first tee box. I looked out over that magnificent sight of the first fairway, and then I
selected my ball and tee and bent over to tee my ball up. The first hole was a par four and about 420
yards. The fairway was long and straight. I would need distance on this first shot, so I teed the ball fairly
low. I would swing through the ball and send it low and far (at least that’s the plan).
I watch quite a bit of golf on TV. I try to pick up on how the pros approach and play the game and then
incorporate that into my game (at least that’s the plan). One of the things I’ve noticed is that all those
golfers I watch on TV – from superstars like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickleson to unknowns and amateurs –
is that they all tee their balls on the first tee the same way. They put the ball down on the tee, making
adjustments as need for the fairway they are facing, and they all start their game basically the same way.
As we enter into the Kingdom of God, we all come in the same way – through the working of the Holy
Spirit. For most Christians, that working is through the water and the Word of Holy Baptism. When water
is applied somehow (through immersion, pouring, or sprinkling) and God’s Word is spoken, “In the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (as commanded by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28), men,
women and children enter into the Kingdom of God. There are a few that come into the Kingdom through
an alternate way – by hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ before Baptism – but this is still the Holy Spirit
working through God’s Word to bring them into the Kingdom.
A question that just came to me as I reread the above was “So what?” I know there are those who are
reading this that do not like the game of golf (probably haven’t even read this far because of their
disinterest in golf – which is fine, don’t get me wrong). But if you have read this far, I think you’ve got
some desire for the game of golf. And if you like to actually play the game of golf, you go out the first hole
and tee up your ball. You go and do it.
I think every person has a similar desire to be a child of God. You want to actually be a child of God. You
enter the Kingdom of God through the working of the Holy Spirit. What I’m getting at is there is a
definitive beginning that is the same for all members of the Kingdom of God. Just as you can’t start a
round of golf by dropping a ball in the middle of the fifth fairway and then going on, you also don’t start
your walk in the Kingdom of God in the middle of the walk.
I’ve seen guys who have come to faith in Christ in their 20’s and right away want to enroll in seminary to
become a pastor. I caution against this kind of “dropping the ball in the fifth fairway” approach to Kingdom
walking. Start at the first tee and work your way to the fifth fairway. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Get warmed up and work the kinks out, so to speak.
The temptation for me is that I see these guys on TV playing golf and they start out right away with
birdies and pars. I think to myself that I could do that. But when I get out on the course, tee the ball up
just like Tiger Woods does, I don’t ever get a birdie or a par. Tiger has, of course, been teeing up the ball
many more times that I have. When I see him on TV, I don’t see the thousands of times he’s “walked” his
game before that first tee shot.
It is the same way with walking in the Kingdom of God. Yes, we start out the same way in Baptism and
through the Word of God. But we have a long way to go before we can become like Tiger Woods in God’s
Kingdom. We have to walk quite a bit. What we need to do is keep teeing up the ball and following the
leading of the Holy Spirit. We need to continue to “work on our game” by reading God’s Word, worshiping
with brothers and sisters, and seeking the will of God in our lives. How important is that? Remember that
Christ went through, literally, a hell of lot to save you with His death and resurrection.
As we begin our walk with Christ, we start as everyone else does – being called to faith through the
working of the Holy Spirit through water and the word. Keep swinging away and keep walking!
© 2005 True Men Ministries, Inc.
It was a spectacular morning. The sun was just over the horizon in the eastern sky. The dew was still
glistening on the grass and hanging among the trees along the fairway. I finished my last bit of coffee and
walked up to the first tee box. I looked out over that magnificent sight of the first fairway, and then I
selected my ball and tee and bent over to tee my ball up. The first hole was a par four and about 420
yards. The fairway was long and straight. I would need distance on this first shot, so I teed the ball fairly
low. I would swing through the ball and send it low and far (at least that’s the plan).
I watch quite a bit of golf on TV. I try to pick up on how the pros approach and play the game and then
incorporate that into my game (at least that’s the plan). One of the things I’ve noticed is that all those
golfers I watch on TV – from superstars like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickleson to unknowns and amateurs –
is that they all tee their balls on the first tee the same way. They put the ball down on the tee, making
adjustments as need for the fairway they are facing, and they all start their game basically the same way.
As we enter into the Kingdom of God, we all come in the same way – through the working of the Holy
Spirit. For most Christians, that working is through the water and the Word of Holy Baptism. When water
is applied somehow (through immersion, pouring, or sprinkling) and God’s Word is spoken, “In the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (as commanded by Jesus Christ in Matthew 28), men,
women and children enter into the Kingdom of God. There are a few that come into the Kingdom through
an alternate way – by hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ before Baptism – but this is still the Holy Spirit
working through God’s Word to bring them into the Kingdom.
A question that just came to me as I reread the above was “So what?” I know there are those who are
reading this that do not like the game of golf (probably haven’t even read this far because of their
disinterest in golf – which is fine, don’t get me wrong). But if you have read this far, I think you’ve got
some desire for the game of golf. And if you like to actually play the game of golf, you go out the first hole
and tee up your ball. You go and do it.
I think every person has a similar desire to be a child of God. You want to actually be a child of God. You
enter the Kingdom of God through the working of the Holy Spirit. What I’m getting at is there is a
definitive beginning that is the same for all members of the Kingdom of God. Just as you can’t start a
round of golf by dropping a ball in the middle of the fifth fairway and then going on, you also don’t start
your walk in the Kingdom of God in the middle of the walk.
I’ve seen guys who have come to faith in Christ in their 20’s and right away want to enroll in seminary to
become a pastor. I caution against this kind of “dropping the ball in the fifth fairway” approach to Kingdom
walking. Start at the first tee and work your way to the fifth fairway. Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Get warmed up and work the kinks out, so to speak.
The temptation for me is that I see these guys on TV playing golf and they start out right away with
birdies and pars. I think to myself that I could do that. But when I get out on the course, tee the ball up
just like Tiger Woods does, I don’t ever get a birdie or a par. Tiger has, of course, been teeing up the ball
many more times that I have. When I see him on TV, I don’t see the thousands of times he’s “walked” his
game before that first tee shot.
It is the same way with walking in the Kingdom of God. Yes, we start out the same way in Baptism and
through the Word of God. But we have a long way to go before we can become like Tiger Woods in God’s
Kingdom. We have to walk quite a bit. What we need to do is keep teeing up the ball and following the
leading of the Holy Spirit. We need to continue to “work on our game” by reading God’s Word, worshiping
with brothers and sisters, and seeking the will of God in our lives. How important is that? Remember that
Christ went through, literally, a hell of lot to save you with His death and resurrection.
As we begin our walk with Christ, we start as everyone else does – being called to faith through the
working of the Holy Spirit through water and the word. Keep swinging away and keep walking!
© 2005 True Men Ministries, Inc.
