The Masters started yesterday and after the first round, Justin Rose was leading at -7 with a score of 65. It’s nice to see your name on top of the leaderboard after Thursday, but Rose has to focus on what’s next because winning after the first day ultimately doesn’t matter.
He’s had two runner-up finishes at Augusta in the past, so he’s hoping to win his first Green Jacket on Sunday.
Thursday included some other notable accomplishments, including Jordan Spieth hitting the most greens (16 of 18), while Henrik Stenson had the fewest putts (24), and Cameron Champ had the longest average driving distance at 332 yards.
However, despite Rose leading and other guys having impressive rounds for one reason or another, the classic golf saying is, “You can’t win the tournament on Thursday, but you can lose it.” It’s a true statement and Justin Rose hasn’t won anything yet.
The other part of that saying is also correct because after players such as Vijay Singh, Fred Couples, Patrick Cantlay, Zach Johnson, and Lee Westwood all shot well over par yesterday, they are now in jeopardy of missing the cut and have lost their chance to win the tournament.
I believe the saying “You can’t win the tournament on Thursday, but you can lose it” also rings true to life on earth, eternity, and experiencing victory.
The reality is, we can’t win by getting the “best score” or having “an impressive round” on earth, because, in the larger scheme of things, it’s only “Thursday.”
When we think we’re winning based on temporary worldly standards such as money, fame, power, success, or acclaim, it’s a shortsighted, limited, perspective because this life is just “Thursday.”
What we do on “Thursday” does matter, but our greater concern must be what happens next.
Matthew 16:26 (AMP) asks these important questions: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world , but forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”
The Living Bible gives this paraphrase: “What profit is there if you gain the whole world—and lose eternal life? What can be compared with the value of eternal life?”
In the end, it’s all about experiencing victory through Jesus and understanding that eternity is what truly matters. A golfer knows that leading the field on Thursday pales in comparison to victory on Sunday.
We also must remember we can’t win by our performance on “Thursday” in regards to doing enough good or trying to earn our way to heaven based on what we do here on earth.
What we do in our own strength and power on “Thursday” will never be enough because salvation and eternal life are only available through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) tells us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Although we can’t win with the “best score” on “Thursday,” what happens on “Thursday” or while we're here on earth can cause us to lose if we say “no” to Jesus and decide not to believe.
We can lose our soul and eternal life by not surrendering to Jesus and placing our faith in Him for the forgiveness of our sin. If we choose not to repent and “play the course” or live life according to our own way in pursuit of “Thursday” success apart from Jesus, then we lose, and we’ll miss the cut.
John 3:18 (AMP) says, “Whoever believes and has decided to trust in Him is not judged ; but the one who does not believe is judged already , because he has not believed and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God .”
Thankfully, once we surrender to Jesus and receive His grace on “Thursday”, we know we've won on “Sunday” because our eternal victory is secure.
Then the life we now live throughout the rest of the “tournament” is like Paul’s life, as he explains in Galatians 2:20: “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Today, as followers of Jesus, we live in victory both now and for eternity...from Thursday to Sunday. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I’m so grateful that my salvation is not based on my own performance and that this life isn’t all there is. I long to spend eternity with You and while I’m still here on earth I pray I wouldn’t chase temporary satisfaction or be distracted by worldly pursuits, but instead live in view of eternity. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.Discussion Questions for PACKS:
In what ways do you get caught up in “winning Thursday” based on the world's standards?
In what ways would your life change if you lived based on the fact you’ve already won “on Sunday” because of Jesus?
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