“I believe in Jesus. Ultimately, I think that’s what defines me most.”
That’s a whole lotta wisdom coming from the mouth of a 27-year-old. Scottie Scheffler’s fascination with golf began at the age of three, when his parents gave him a set of plastic clubs. I probably don’t have to tell you that their initial investment paid off.
On April 14, the eyes of the world were on Augusta, Georgia, as Mr. Scheffler won the Masters for the second time in just three years. He finished 11-under par for the championship, winning by four shots over Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg. That made Scheffler the fourth-youngest player to have two Masters victories under his belt. He joined Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as the only golfers to have won multiple victories at both the Players Championship and the Masters. And, just a week after winning his second green jacket, Scheffler followed up his Masters victory with a win at the RBC Heritage – earning his fourth win in five starts. Other than that, he’s just an ordinary golfer.
What defines you most?
When the Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus, as he opened his letter, he also shared a mouthful of wisdom (Ephesians 1:3-10): “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”
Wow! Wow! Wow!
Do we really believe these things? If we are in Christ – trusting in His righteousness and not our own – then all of these things are true of us!
1. We are blessed.
We are blessed not just in a natural sense, like the blessings of food, clothing, and shelter, but we are blessed in an entirely supernatural sense. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn.” Humanly speaking, that makes no sense. But, in the economy of God, He has set His affections upon us in such an extraordinary way that His grace is ours 24-7 – when we recognize His good hand upon us, and when we don’t.
2. We are citizens of heaven.
The Bible makes this truth abundantly clear. Yes, if you’re reading this, you’re still here on Planet Earth. But, because of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, our primary citizenship is in “heavenly places” with Him. That reality is meant to encourage us to persevere, and to trust Him in situations that we don’t understand. This life matters forever, but we’re just passing through, so we hold our earthly blessings loosely.
3. We are known.
Before we were a figment in the imagination of our parents, we were known by God. Before He created the world, He knew us. He set His sights on us. He chose to create us. And He chose to create us for eternal purposes. That means that you and I are of eternal value to God, and that our worth does not come from the opinion or rankings of others – but our worth is rooted in our relationship to God.
4. We are chosen.
God not only chose to create us, but He chose to redeem us – to save us from our sin. To deliver us from our shame. To rescue us from the wrath – God’s own wrath – that we rightfully deserved. To set us free from our captivity to self, and to set us free to become all that He created us to be.
5. We are holy.
Admittedly, our progress along this sanctification journey often feels like it comes in fits and starts. But that does not negate the status that we’ve already been granted in Christ. His merit has become our merit. This is a wondrous gift, and it is ours. For the rest of our earthly lives, we will see God bringing every aspect of our nature and conduct under the powerful influence of His truth and Spirit.
6. We are predestined.
It has always been the plan of God to make us His own. We weren’t created just to be His creatures, but we were created to be His children. We did nothing to earn this privilege, and we don’t retain this privilege by our own good behavior. It is entirely a free gift. God gives. We receive. That’s how it works.
7. We are loved.
Yes, even us. We are the recipients of extravagant and unimaginable grace. We are loved with a love that defies human understanding, because it is a love that never rested upon reciprocity. Instead, we are simply loved.
8. We are adopted.
We are the sons and daughters of the living God. We’re not fearful slaves serving a distant king, but we have been brought near to the heart of our Creator. With tremendous gratitude, we now worship our Father in reverence and awe, recognizing that we have immediate access to Him every moment of every day.
9. We are redeemed.
The Father planned it. The Son procured it. The Spirit applied it. At great personal cost to Himself, God has given to us, and God is giving to us, and God will give to us, a completely changed life.
10. We are forgiven.
As you read this, I hope that really sinks in. The Cross where Jesus bled and died for us is the only ground for our pardon, and the Cross is enough. Now, when we ask the Lord to forgive us for an offense, we’re asking for something that we know He has already granted, on Calvary’s Cross. Something that we know He has already provided for: “It is finished.” Something that we know He delights to lavish upon such undeserving recipients as us.
11. We are wise.
We are growing in wisdom and understanding of the things that matter most, but that wisdom comes to us from the Christ who already lives in us. Said another way, the wisdom is already ours. When it comes to spiritual truth, we may be figuring it out, and that’s a good thing, but the Bible promises us that – for all who are trusting in Jesus – the mind of Christ is already ours in Him.
12. We are united with God, and with each other, for eternity.
We are in the family, forever. Our names are inscribed in His book of life, and our names can’t ever be erased.
Other than that, we’re just ordinary, like Scottie.
Pastor Charles
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