Sunday provided another reason why we love sports! Tiger Woods captivated fans with his incredible Masters performance by winning for the fifth time (his 15th major victory) and making his way back into a Green Jacket.
When thinking about what this win means and what the scene on 18 represents, I want to focus on the word, "overcoming." So much has transpired throughout Tiger's roller-coaster journey on and off the course, which makes yesterday's win absolutely remarkable.
He burst onto the scene when he won the Masters in 1997 as a 21-year-old and dominated the sport until 2008 when the narrative started to change.
Winning the US Open with a torn ACL was the beginning of ongoing challenges and obstacles he'd have to overcome over the next decade.
In 2009, shocking problems in Tiger's personal life were revealed. In 2010, he faced a debilitating neck injury. From 2011 to 2012, he had to deal with a sprained MCL and an Achilles issue. Then in 2013, Tiger had a brief comeback before major back surgeries derailed him in 2014, 2015, and 2017.
While all of this was happening, he had the option to either give up or overcome the pain, the doubts, the criticism, the loneliness, the regret, and the rejection. He was judged, questioned, laughed at, and given up on by many, but he kept going.
In December 2017, Tiger was ranked 1,199th in the World Rankings... and on April 14th, 2019, he became the second oldest Masters Champion.
To win the tournament, he not only had to overcome his three-shot deficit as he finished hole 11 but a leaderboard that consisted of some of the top-ranked golfers in the world.
Tiger Woods is an inspirational example of an overcomer and we can certainly be motivated by his story when trying to overcome our own pain, disappointment, mistakes, and doubts.
As rewarding as it is for us to overcome injuries and failures during our journeys or to watch someone like Tiger do what he did, these are minor and temporary accomplishments.
There is a much greater obstacle we all face and need to recognize: the weight of sin and death and our eternal destination.
The truth is, we can’t overcome the punishment of sin or our own brokenness through self-belief, hard work, discipline, or perseverance.
The only way to overcome hell and eternal separation from God is through the grace of Jesus Christ. It’s only through Him and His death and resurrection that we become true overcomers.
Jesus gives us this hope in John 16:33 (AMP), "I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world, you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous ; I have overcome the world.” "
1 John 5:4-5 (ESV) says, "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
As sports fans, we can admire Tiger Woods for all he’s overcome to get back on top of the golf world, but today let’s be filled with joy, hope, and understanding that there is only One who overcame the whole world and defeated death. Through Him, we too, are eternal overcomers!
I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I need Your strength and power to overcome the current obstacles I face in my life, but I know they are only temporary. Thank you for the grace You’ve shown me through Jesus. I know it’s because of Him I’ve overcome the eternal separation I once had with You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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