ON TARGET
Pastor
David Green
01/2012
“They
return, but not to the most High: they are like
a deceitful bow:
their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue:
this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.”
(Hosea 7:16
Sometimes,
physical activities can be used to illustrate Biblical teachings. One
of my frequent activities is target shooting, or as some folks
would call it, plinking. It is something I enjoy, shooting
ammunition at various targets at various distances. As I was at the
shooting range on an unusually warm January day this year, the Lord
gave me this sermon.
A
deceitful bow is one that will not shoot an arrow straight. The
application is that the people were off target. The
book of Hosea was written by the prophet Hosea under the divine
inspiration of God. This was written during some very dark hours of
the history of Israel. Foreign invadors were in the land. Princes
and priests were corrupt. The knowledge of God was rejected.
OFF
TARGET
We,
like Hosea, live in amongst a nation, a world, that is “off
target.” Now, in target shooting, whether using a bow, rifle,
or handgun, there are a multitude of reasons why a person might be
“off target.” Perhaps the shooter is not aiming at the
target. Perhaps he cannot see the target. Maybe his gun is bad. Perhaps
the sights are off. Maybe his breathing is not right. The
problem might be the way he is holding the gun. Perhaps he does not
know how to use the weapon correctly. Or, maybe he is just having a
bad day.
At
the end of the day though, one fact remains, if a shooter does not
hit the target, he has not hit the target. End of story. All the
excuses in the world could be said some of which may be true, but the
fact is that the target has been missed.
There
are some people who miss by a few centimeters, and others who could
not hit the broad side of the barn. But when your life depends on
hitting the target a miss is still a miss. Getting close only counts
when using grenades!
“Whosoever
committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the
transgression of the law.” (1
John 3:4)
The
word used in the New Testament for sin is a Greek word that was also
used in spear throwing and was indicitive of “missing the
mark.” Of course, it also means to err, to sin, so our King
James translation is accurate here. Sin is the breaking of God's
law.
Whether
throwing a spear, shooting a gun, or living right – there is a
standard. The standard is the way in which all are measured by. Some
folks would rather use someone else as their standard rather
than the true standard. So you will hear a shooter say after
missing the target, “I was better than so-and-so.”
Sinners will also say the same thing. And
maybe that was the case, but the fact is both MISSED THE MARK!
“But
as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of
conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
(1 Peter
1:15-16)
God's
holiness is the standard! Not your neighbor. Not Adolf Hitler. Not
your mom. And not your pastor.
“For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God...”
(Romans 3:23)
In
and of ourselves, we have all come short! We have all missed the
mark! Even the most holy among you, the most seasoned of all
Christians will admit that they have come short. Perhaps you are "better"
than Adolf Hitler or Karl Marx, but being better than someone else is
not anything to brag about when in and of yourselves we have all missed
the mark!
“Enter
ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way,
that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto
life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)
To
miss the target does not require much, so it is quite easy to do. You
do not have to have any training, you do not have to work for it. Many
today are missing the target. Few there be that even find it.
HINDRANCES
TO HITTING THE TARGET
“These
were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the
word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily,
whether those things were so.” (Acts 17:11)
A
major hindrance to hitting the target can be sight. In order to get
the shot on target, you have to see properly. You have to see the
target so you can be sure to hit the target. You have to see the
front sights (if using a gun) so you can aim well. Seeing both near
and far is key here. When I am on the range, I cannot see the target
without my glasses. Spiritually speaking, in order to hit the
target, we must have our “Biblical Glasses” on.
“Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy
2:15)
Seeing
is not all there is to it, of course, because a man might be able to
see the target and also be able to see the front sight on the weapon,
but he might miss because he does not understand how to put all that
information together. Some folks will miss the target because they
are not rightly dividing the Word of Truth. A silly illustration
is the fact that a person could say that everyone ought to commit
suicide. In one place of Scripture we read that Judas went and
hanged himself. And in another place, we read the words “go
thou and do likewise.” If a person does not put all the
information together properly, the conclusion might be way off
target! We MUST be sure to RIGHTLY divide the Word of truth so that
we remain on target!
“Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalms
119:105)
Sometimes
improper lighting will cause a man to miss the target. The target
needs to be lit up and the sights also need to be lit – to be
able to see what is near and far. The Scriptures give us the light
we need - both to our feet and our path – both near and far!
“Therefore,
brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been
taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” (2 Thessalonians
2:15)
There
are folks who will miss the target because they are standing on shaky
ground. Spiritually speaking, if you are not standing right, you are
going to miss the target. Stand on solid ground of Christ and His
Word!
“That
we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried
about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning
craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive...”
(Ephesians 4:14)
The
wind can cause a shooter some headaches, especially bow shooting but
also even long range rifle shooting. Spiritually we must also watch
out for the wind. Oh, how many have missed the target because of the
wind. Doctrinal winds are blowing, we must make sure that we
compensate for that wind so we always hit the target!
“Set
your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians
3:2)
Sometimes
folks miss their target because they get distracted. How easy it
is to get distracted by the world and all it has to offer! A true
marksman must always be focused so as to hit the target. Nothing can
distract. Yet between the Devil, the world, and everything that they
have to offer there is a lot of distraction out there. This one
hindrance has caused a lot of folks to miss their target. Keep your
mind on the target!
“For
such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves
into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is
transformed into an angel of light.” (II Corinthians
11:13-14)
Some
people miss the target by design. They are not trying to hit it.
These are false prophets, workers of Satan. And by their poor
example, they will lead others astray. We must watch out for them. They
will try to even deceive the very elect if possible. And they
are good at what they do!
“Pride
goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
(Proverbs 16:18)
Pride
can cause a man to falter. Oh, how many folks have missed their
target because of pride. One day we had a visitor at our house (he
will remain nameless) who bragged that if he took his wife shooting
that we could stand in front of the targets and that would be the
safest place to stand because she could not hit the broadside of the
barn. But then on the shooting range, he did not do well at all,
missing more than he was hitting. Usually he is a good marksman, but
that day he was not doing so well!
We
must watch out for pride. Always keep in mind what the Bible says in
I Corinthians 15:10, which says, “But by the grace of
God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not
in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but
the grace of God which was with me.”
When we know we have hit the targets and are
shooting well, let us
never get the big head and think more highly of ourselves than we
ought to think. We ought to instead praise God for His grace and be
willing to help those who are off target:
"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a
fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of
meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one
another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. For if a man think
himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself."
(Galatians 6:1-3)
GETTING
ON TARGET AND STAYING ON TARGET
“For
the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged
sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and
intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
In
order to hit the right target, you have to have the proper tools. The
Bible is the weapon we must use!
“Search
the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they
are they which testify of me.” (John 5:39)
Only
the Scriptures tell us about Christ the Redeemer. A man who will
reject the Bible is off target! The only way of salvation is through
Jesus and only the Bible can point folks to Him!
“And
David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he
had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these;
for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.”
(1 Samuel 17:39)
Like
any other weapon, the Bible must be proven – tested, tried, and
shown to be of great strength. A person cannot pick up a bow and
arrow (or a handgun) and consistently hit the target at 50 yards
without a lot of practice. So it is spiritually... You cannot
leave your Bible sitting on the table week after week without picking
it up, and expect to be able to be on target with it.
“Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy
2:15)
On
the range, a man who has never picked up a handgun or very seldom
uses it will be ashamed because he will not hit the target as much as
someone who is skilled with the handgun. And spiritually speaking, a
person who does not study will be ashamed when he cannot hit the
target by rightly dividing the truth. Let us encourage one
another to stay in the Word!
“Thy
word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
(Psalms 119:11)
The
Word of God will keep us on target!
CONCLUSION
“They
return, but not to the most High: they are like
a deceitful bow:
their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue:
this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.” (Hosea 7:16)
The
world around us is not even coming close to hitting the target, and
some of God's people are not on target either. May we as God's
people stay on target and show others the way to get on target! May
we never be described as a “DECEITFUL BOW.”