CHAMPIONS STAY LEVEL
"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to." (Luke 14:24, NIV)

Loren Roberts let me peek into one of his secrets at a practice round at the Players Championship recently. The rookie and hottest player on the Champions Tour is noted for his flowing putting stroke. But he has also been one of the most accurate drivers on the PGA Tour for three decades.

I walked nine holes with him at Jacksonville and watched him hit every fairway and green.

As we strolled up the ninth hole, I asked him what was the key to driving the ball straight.

"Hit it short," he joked.

"Come on, Loren, tell me."

He stopped walking and looked at me, as if to say, Jim really wants to know.

Which I did.

He still had his driver in his hand. He took a backswing and halfway down he stopped. "You have to stay on plane through the ball," he said, now dead serious. "I've never worried about how I got the club back, but when I come into the hitting area I always want to be on plane."

Listening, I was reminded of a morning on the practice range with noted golf instructor, Jim Flick. Jim was giving Tom Lehman a lesson. Jim wanted Tom to do much the same as what Loren was saying, and not let the spine angle in his swing differ from his space angle at address. And not raise up or dip.

Most PGA golf pros will tell you that dipping on the downswing forces the body out ahead of the arms and hands, trapping the club behind thus causing the ball to fly right, or the flipping of the hands and hooking left.

Life is like the golf swing. Do it well and you are rewarded. Get out of plane and you suffer consequences.

Jesus modeled how to live in a perfect plane. He stayed level at all times, avoiding the dipping and raising-ups of life. As man, tested in all ways as we are, He never allowed himself to get ahead of His Divine Instructions.

Many golf players attempt to master the golf swing. Few do. Many attempt to master life. Few do.

The way of righteousness opens by a small gate, but Jesus bids us enter: "I am the gate," He says. "Whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10: 9 & 10, NIV). "Christ… leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (I Pet 2:21, NIV).

Lord Jesus, I enter into the narrow Gate of Life at Your bidding. Help me make every effort today to stay level, in sync, with You and follow Your example. Grant by Your Spirit that I might follow Your example and put into practice Your instruction one step at a time.

--

Jim Hiskey

April 19, 2006

Copyright 2006 Links Players International

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