No Mulligans

In an informal game of golf, a player may sometimes choose to hit a second ball after he makes a particularly poor shot. The second stroke replaces the previous one entirely and no penalty is counted on the golfer’s scorecard. Opting for this “do-over” is what’s known as taking a mulligan. The thought of having a second chance can be a great comfort to a golfer, but of course there are no mulligans allowed in tournaments. Officials do not give Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods a “do-over” after they hit their ball into the water at the Masters. They are scored based on how they play initially, with no mulligans.

There are some today who teach that God grants mankind a sort of “spiritual mulligan.” They claim unrepentant sinners will have a second chance for salvation after their deaths. According to their theory, a disobedient person’s life is not counted against them eternally if they will make correction in the hereafter. This doctrine is not compatible with what the scriptures clearly teach.

In the Bible we read, “it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Heb 9:27). The teaching of Jesus concerning the rich man and Lazarus also sheds light on this topic. After death, faithful Lazarus was in Abraham’s bosom and the wicked rich man was in torments. The righteous and the disobedient dead are separated by a large impassable gap. No one has the ability to pass from one side to the other (Luke 16:26).

In the Old Testament we learn that there is “no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave” (Ecc 9:10). The dead “know nothing, and they have no more reward” (Ecc 9:5). The grave is unable to praise or give thanks to God for His goodness (Psa 6:5; 115:17-18). “Those who go down into the pit” cannot hope for God’s truth (Isa 38:18). In other words, the disobedient dead have no opportunity to improve their standing.

All of God’s word makes it clear, the time for salvation from sins is now–while life remains! Jesus declared, “I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work” (John 9:4). The apostle Paul pointed to one of Isaiah’s Messianic prophecies when he wrote, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor 6:2). Make this life count, because “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body” (2 Cor 5:10).

There will be no “spiritual mulligans” at the end. Our current actions, words, and thoughts have eternal consequences. Now is the time to be saved from the hazard that is sin. Let us choose to obey the gospel and live faithfully today.