The Best Mulligan Shot:

I just started the book, “3:16,” by Max Lucado this Easter weekend.  This book’s main inspiration is most people’s beloved verse, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  It is a great starter to our religious faith, and this is why Max Lucado is taking time to break down just one verse in the Bible that holds so much significance.  This verse provides so much hope and so much joy, and this verse serves as a reminder of God’s love for us, even when we don’t deserve it.  Even if you have been a believer for years, it is still a verse that should be relooked and reviewed again and again.  

The first chapter already made a big impact on me.  Lucado referenced John 3:16 and the relationships that we should have with Jesus as a Mulligan shot.  For those of you who are not golfers,  a Mulligan shot is basically a do-over shot.  For example, if there is a really bad drive that a golfer makes, they can try that same drive over again.  Now, granted Mulligans are not actually used in golf competitions and in tournament play.  However, in casual rounds of golf, it is commonly used.  It is not used in every hole, but usually once in the round.  Every golfer would prefer to never have to use a Mulligan shot, but it is convenient when it is made available to us. 

We all would like to have Mulligan shots in real life.  There are so many times when we say the wrong thing to the person that we work with, or we hurt someone’s feelings or we accidentally sleep in past an important meeting.  There have been so many days I would pray for a Mulligan day.  We as people all need a Mulligan for our lives in general.  Sadly, everyone has made a mistake.  Everyone has made poor choices and has hurt others.  Everyone has done the opposite of what they said they would do.  We have all sinned.  Romans 3:23 says this perfectly, “For all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.”  We all need a Mulligan, a do over.  We need one to cover our lives and make us renewed.  

I do have wonderful news, even when that last paragraph sounded harsh and tragic.  We have a Mulligan in Jesus Christ.  We have a chance for a complete do-over.  Jesus died on the cross for our sins.  Our heavenly Father sent his son to earth to die on the cross for our sins and for all the mistakes that we have made over the past and will make in the future.  He sent his son to die, even when people mocked him and rejected him, even when I mocked or rejected him.  Yet, he has chosen to love me and to save me.  I don’t deserve a do-over, I don’t deserve a second chance to do life, a Mulligan, but through Him, I have gotten one.  

Now, I will say that this means we get Mulligans or do-overs for our everyday decisions.  We are still going to make mistakes that will hurt others, and we will have to be responsible for that.  We may need to face consequences for some of our actions.  We are not made perfect in the sense that we will never make a mistake again. Similarly, after a mulligan shot is made in golf, there will still be some bad shots that will be taken, and golfers will need to work the way to the hole regardless of them. We need to be conscious of the choices that we are making daily. We will need to listen to our Holy Spirit, our guide to help us through this world and through our choices.  We may need to be humbled, we may need to apologize, but we will eventually make it to the home that we will have in heaven with Jesus and our Father. 

This is the Easter Season.  This is the greatest time to remember what the Lord thinks of His people, including you and me.  He loves us, even when we don’t deserve this.  I pray that when you are with your family or with your friends, that you remember the reason for this Easter season, that you remember everything that the Lord has done for you in order for you to have a Mulligan shot at life.  

I have two challenges for you this week.  The first is to spend your own time reflecting on the verse John 3:16. Through that reflection, I hope you can remind at least one person about God’s love through sharing this verse with them. Then my second challenge for you is to enjoy your week. Have the most blessed Easter week. Maybe even go golfing in the new, crisp spring air. Whatever you do, I hope you feel God’s love and the complete blessing of your do-over in life. Live out this re-do to the best of your ability.