Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy was playing some fantastic golf at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia this past weekend. The 21-year-old was poised to become the second youngest player to ever win the Masters. With a 4-shot lead to begin the final round, McIlroy had everything going his way. Then it all came apart.

A couple of disastrous holes cost McIlroy the lead. An errant tee shot on number 13 sealed his fate; he would not win the green jacket. Instead he would be remembered with other golfers who squandered a big lead on the final day of a major tournament.

Life can be cruel that way. Everything is going your way, and then, suddenly, it all starts to go downhill.

Paul knew what it was like to experience the ups and downs of life. In Acts 14, some people at Lystra thought so highly of Paul that they were actually prepared to worship him. But some other people came along and quickly turned the crowd against Paul, and they stoned him and left him for dead.

I’ll never blow the lead at the Masters. I just try not to embarrass myself at the church golf outing. And I doubt that I will ever be dragged out of town and left for dead, but the thought of that possibility gives me incentive to work a bit harder on my sermons.

We all have to understand that life has its ups and downs. Let us try to remain humble in victory and gracious in defeat.