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CHAMPIONS PERSEVERE
"…you have kept the word of my perseverance." (Rev. 3:10, NASB)
"Paul Goydos' second PGA Tour victory was an exercise in perseverance not unlike his entire
career," wrote Helen Ross a PGA Tour correspondent the day after Goydos won the 2007 Sony Open in Hawaii. Goydos had made three trips to the PGA Tour Qualifying School, been unsuccessful in 246
consecutive events over 11 years, and—after Charles Howell eagled the 63rd hole, grabbing a two shot lead—it appeared Goydos would be unsuccessful again.
But he stuck to the shot at hand, made four birdies on the last nine, and emerged the champion by one
shot.
Don Massengale, a winner on both the PGA and Champions Tour and one of the first members of our PGA
Champions Tour Fellowship won an eternal victory earlier this month. After a day on the golf course, and seemingly in good health, Don suffered a heart attack and died. I talked to Rik, his brother the
next day. "It took all of us completely by surprise," Rik said.
I remember a chat I had with Don when he was struggling with his game during one of his
later years on the Champions Tour. I thought to myself, This guy doesn't quit. He's got a rock solid faith.
The apostle Paul, near the end of his life, said: "I have fought the good fight, I have finished
the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only me, but to all who have longed for
his appearing" (1 Timothy 4:7, 8 NASB).
Like Paul, Don Massengale fought the good fight…kept the faith and persevered in THE Major
Championship and possesses a new crown.
One of my favorite writings of Oswald Chambers is from My Utmost for His Highest - May 8, when he wrote of the life of the disciple of Jesus in the hands of God as
"…like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot
see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, 'I can't take any more.' Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and
then He lets the arrow fly…
"Is there something in your life for which you need perseverance right now? Maintain your
intimate relationship with Jesus Christ through the perseverance of faith. Proclaim as Job did, 'Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him'" (Job 13:15, KJV).
"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature…" (James 1:4, NIV)
--
Jim Hiskey
January 18, 2007
Copyright 2007 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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