Hebrews 7:25

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Unfortunately, the headlines from the Hero World Challenge last week involved another rules controversy instead of the quality of golf that was played. Patrick Reed made two practice swings while in a sand area. The problem was that he eliminated much of the sand behind his ball with each swing. What actually happened was clearly visible by the video footage, but Reed insisted that improving his lie was not his intent and that he did not know the sand was smoothed out behind the ball. The rules of golf are clear in this circumstance and intent is not required. However, it is difficult for one to imagine not knowing the sand was “brushed away” twice. The rules assign a two stroke penalty if the lie was improved.

Lies, positions or locations are important in the game of golf, but not so much to our Lord. No matter how sinful an act or how “dirty” a life, Jesus selfless sacrifice was sufficient for our salvation. As far “down” as man may find himself, we have a Savior with an arm long enough to reach our location.

Whenever our old pastor would preach from or quote Hebrews 7:25, he never failed to add a “g” and tell us that our God is so able that he specialized in reaching down and saving to the “guttermost.” Many times we don’t realize our actual condition until we reach this “gutter” status. We may deceive ourselves and our family, but it is difficult to deny once the video replay is shown. We were in fact in a terrible, dire, “gutter-like” situation.

We are unable to improve our lie by way of our own efforts. Even though we put ourself into the situation or hazard, our own capacities or abilities are insufficient to get us out. Consider Hebrews 9:24, “for Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” Our Savior went directly to the right hand of the most high God. He was never dependent upon anything “made with hands.” Defilement is inevitable whenever the hands of men are involved. Thankfully, we have a Savior who is our intercessor, our advocate and our mediator. He not only knows our identify, but knew of our sinful condition. The believer can testify that He specializes in those cases!