ENDING THE MADNESS

"Such a high priest meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself." (Hebrews 7:26-27, NIV)

One of golf's most enjoyable aspects is playing with regular partners. The friendly rivalries that develop keep us coming back, looking to win today—either in response to or confirmation of last time's result.

But here's a question that clouds the matter of "a friendly rivalry": when does it end?

If we keep coming back to settle the score, as the saying goes, we do so knowing that the outcome of the day is only temporary. If we lose, we want another chance. If we win, our opponent does. There is no sense of permanence to what has transpired. And frankly, that goes against the grain.

Which grain am I talking about? The grain of our spirits, created by God. It is, argues theologian N.T. Wright, the grain of our spirits to demand true justice, seek a spiritual connection, long for relationships, and appreciate beauty. But he acknowledges that that four-part list is incomplete. There are other things our spirits desire without anyone telling them they should do so. One of those things is permanent resolutions.

Perhaps there is gain here in alluding to a sorrowful example. In the world of war, a report to the family that a warrior is "feared dead" may be acceptable for a little while. But the longer that classification—or "missing in action"—lingers, the more difficult it becomes to cope with the unanswered question. Nearly every family, while holding out hope for a reasonable amount of time, will tell you that they "just want to know." That is, even if the report is a report of death, it is better than the aching mystery. They yearn for a permanent resolution.

This longing in our spirits is confirmed by the writer of Hebrews, who drew a stark line between the priestly sacrifices of the Old Testament and the permanent resolution that came through Jesus Christ. This is the sacrifice that the writer said worked "once for all."

Under the Old Testament system, the priests had to keep returning, keep spilling the imperfect blood of animals, in symbolic atonement for the sins of the people. Under Christ, the blood spilled was perfect, as was the atonement.

It is Christ, then, who is the permanent resolution our spirits desire.

In earthly endeavors—as when we play competitive golf with old friends or make the next purchase or investment—we will not find ourselves able to gain final satisfaction. Our joys will be temporary, and our spirits will bear witness to such. But when we seek Christ, we gain Him and the permanent resolution and joy that only He can offer.

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Jeff Hopper

October 18, 2007

Copyright 2007 Links Players International

The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.