Course architect Alistair Mackenzie changed the golf world for eternity when he designed the Augusta National Golf Club. His outside the box thinking almost changed golf more than most people realize. When Mackenzie drafted his original plan for the Augusta course, he planned for not eighteen holes but nineteen. The nineteenth hole, a par three designed to play uphill between the ninth and eighteenth greens, was on the drawing board in case any members wanted to settle their bets by playing a tie-breaker or double or nothing. But Bobby Jones was too much of a traditionalist and vetoed Mackenzie’s unique idea.
Imagine the stories surrounding the Masters Tournament if the nineteenth hole had won Bobby Jones’ approval. What dramatic finishes would there have been? What would we have missed? Larry Mize would have never chipped in from 140 feet on the 11th in the dramatic 1987 sudden death playoff. Len Mattiace may have defeated Mike Weir on the 19th hole in 2003. Billy Casper would not have won the last 18 hole playoff in 1970. There would have been no 18 hole playoffs!
Do you ever think outside the box? We tend to conform easily to standards and traditions without giving innovative thoughts much consideration. We don’t like to color outside the lines. Thankfully, God doesn’t think like us. God saw that the world needed a Savior. He knew that mortal man could not fill that need so he did something incredibly radical. He became like us. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, became fully God and fully man so that we could be saved from our sin. Jesus’ life exemplified what it means to live a pure, godly life. His death paid the penalty for our sin as he became the ultimate sacrificial lamb. His resurrection guarantees that he lives today among us through his Holy Spirit and that we have the promise of eternal life. Aren’t you glad God is a radical thinker?
Imagine the stories surrounding the Masters Tournament if the nineteenth hole had won Bobby Jones’ approval. What dramatic finishes would there have been? What would we have missed? Larry Mize would have never chipped in from 140 feet on the 11th in the dramatic 1987 sudden death playoff. Len Mattiace may have defeated Mike Weir on the 19th hole in 2003. Billy Casper would not have won the last 18 hole playoff in 1970. There would have been no 18 hole playoffs!
Do you ever think outside the box? We tend to conform easily to standards and traditions without giving innovative thoughts much consideration. We don’t like to color outside the lines. Thankfully, God doesn’t think like us. God saw that the world needed a Savior. He knew that mortal man could not fill that need so he did something incredibly radical. He became like us. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, became fully God and fully man so that we could be saved from our sin. Jesus’ life exemplified what it means to live a pure, godly life. His death paid the penalty for our sin as he became the ultimate sacrificial lamb. His resurrection guarantees that he lives today among us through his Holy Spirit and that we have the promise of eternal life. Aren’t you glad God is a radical thinker?
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