Dear Trekker,
One of the neatest things about retirement is when a longtime friend invites you to participate in a charity golf tournament only an hour away, on a Monday morning, on a great golf course you’ve never played, you can automatically say without a second thought, “I’m in!” As I departed recently, friend wife queried, “How can all these guys play golf on a Monday? Don’t they work?” “Don’t know honey… that’s not my worry!” I responded, as merrily I took off for a wonderful day of doing what I love… playing golf most anywhere, anytime, particularly with friends.
When I arrived at the course, my friend, Gary, former dynamic youth leader, now highly successful pastor, greeted me with a bear hug and his famous grin, and a hot cup of coffee! The fee only cost me $125… well worth it. A steal by any stretch! I asked, “Who’s playing with us?” (For you unfortunate non-golfers, benefit golf tournaments are played in ‘foursomes’… two people per cart, etc.) He told me about the other two chaps, elaborating on one. “Jim, Hank is a new believer. He has been down on his luck recently (out of work), but has received Christ! I want you to speak into his life today. And with a big grin, “You can do that, can’t you?” I replied, “Of course! That will make my day.” Trekker, never forget… the greatest opportunity in life is to encourage another in their walk with the Lifegiver! The key word is “encourage”. Seize every opportunity! I memorized Peter’s words long ago: “… in your heart set apart Christ as head. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Good words… and sometimes when we are not asked, we should keep our mouths shut, too!
I immediately committed the day, the round and this opportunity to encourage a “new brother” in the Lord with a central thought… “Lord, you are in charge. Provide me with the words that you want me to speak when the timing is right.”(Luke 12:12 is a sure promise. Check it out before you read on.)
We were about half way through the round when on a tee box, Gary turned to me and said, “Jim, tell Hank the three most important things for a new believer to know if he is to “move out” in his faith.” Oh, I thought, “Lord, it is time to deliver, I guess. Give me the words you want me to say!” I breathed the prayer.
I turned to Hank and my other colleague and this is what (in essence) I said: “Hank my brother, first and foremost, you have to fall in love with Jesus! Accepting Christ into your life is not simply a ticket to heaven, though (I noted) it is that! But God had a much nobler purpose in mind when he died for you. He wants you to spend eternity, which begins now, with Him. He loves you passionately; He wants you to love Him passionately too, to walk with Him, talk with Him, being consumed by Him. You know Hank, he desires you to think about Him continually, to spend specific time with Him in reading and prayer, never getting enough of Jesus!”
I paused, and then said, “Hank, the second thing is, “You have to integrate your entire life in and around this overriding love relationship with Jesus Christ! Too many believers compartmentalize their lives. In Christ, there is no such division as sacred and secular. Your desire should be to view all things through the eyes of Christ. Everything in life is sacred because God created all things for His good pleasure” Then I asked, “Hank, are you married?” He said, “Yes.” I responded, “Okay…do you enjoy making love to your wife?” (Amidst chuckles, obviously that question was purely rhetorical to make a point.) “Well, Hank, sex is sacred. It is an incredible gift. The next time you are making love to your wife, thank God for her. Do it aloud if you wish.” Then I encouraged him to read Ecclesiastes 9:9 at first chance. (You check it out too, trekker, before reading further. This is a good gift/challenge to memorize.)
Before going to morsel #3, I continued: “Integrate may not sound like a spiritual word, so let me tell you a true story: Years ago while reading one evening, a statement by Bill Bright, late founder of Campus Crusade and one of the great men of God in the 20th century, came to my mind: “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” I then said to Hank, “That is true, but I felt the Holy Spirit telling me something more… that “the life, His life, is the plan”. “Hank, God has a wonderful life and this is the plan… His life. Falling in love bleeds over into every area of your life. Allow Christ into every chamber of your heart and be the centerpiece of every episode of your journey.”
Then another pause… “Hank, the third thing is a phrase St. Paul used to his young cohort Timothy, “discipline yourself unto godliness!” (1 Timothy 4:7 NIV says, “train yourself to be godly.”) “God has provided the relationship and the life; now Hank, you have to “move out” and make it happen. You are an active participant. Your part is to get going with your salvation, for God is at work within you, to help you to want to do what he wants… and then he helps you do it.” (Philippians 2:12, 13)
All of this dialogue happened pretty quickly… five minutes or so before we jumped into our carts and headed for the next hole. And then we spoke more over lunch an hour later. (And a “by the way” for you golfer trekkers: I hit a 6 iron 32 inches from the pin on that par 3 hole where Gary popped the question. It won “closest to the hole” for the tournament. God surely has a sense of humor and timing and blessing.) To recap, I gave as “the Spirit gave utterance”… quickly, emphatically, relationally, encouragingly.
What would you have said, trekker? For sure, God will provide the words to lift Him up in every situation. You don’t have to be on a golf course to do it… but I can’t think of a better place to speak of Him! (And another “by the way”…our merry little band was “12 under” and we won third place for the tournament.) What a day! I returned home rejoicing, reminded once again of “doing everything heartily, as unto the Lord.” (St. Paul to the Colossians)
Smiling with you,
Your friend, Jim Meredith
