Have you ever played golf with a serious golfer? It can be intimidating. They have rules for everything! There are so many rules, they keep them in a little book and treat it with almost the same authority that Christians treat the Bible.

The first time I played golf in the United States, I realized that very few players

really paid any attention to the rules. It seemed like everyone I played with carried about six balls in their pockets, and every time they sunk a ball into the water or hit out of bounds they’d cry, “I’m taking a Mulligan!” and reach into their pockets for another ball. I couldn’t understand it. “You mean you just get to do that over without a penalty?!” I’d ask. “Yeah,” they’d say. “That’s taking a Mulligan.”

Now where I’m from, no serious golfer would consider using a Mulligan. And how many of us as believers feel that no serious Christian should get a penalty-free do-over in life either? But the Gospel of Jesus Christ shows that God is a God who gives us a do over without penalty, when we trust in His Son Jesus Christ!

“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” ( “For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.]” (Romans 11:29 AMP) 

All of us need a second, or third, or sixteenth chance for a do over along the road of life. And with God that chance is also possible without penalty! God’s never had anyone qualified working for Him yet:

• Noah was a drunk.
• Joseph was abused.
• Moses stuttered.
• Gideon was afraid.
• Rahab was a prostitute.
• David was an adulterer.
• Elijah was suicidal.
• Martha worried.
• The Samaritan woman was divorced-more than once.
• Paul was a religious Zealot.
• Peter denied Christ.

But it was never about them. They weren’t the message, only the messenger. No matter how badly you have failed, or how far you have fallen, or how deeply you hurt today, with God there is always another “Mulligan” or another opportunity for a do over! Like Paul, we need to “forget what is behind,” (Phil. 3:13) take a Mulligan, and keep pressing forward in Christ!