As cops, we know something about the importance of putting rounds
"on target"
-- which for us means center mass and head shots. Thankfully, paper targets don't shoot back. But we know for certain that in a real deadly force encounter, putting rounds
on target
is a matter of life and death for ourselves, our partners, innocent bystanders and yes, the intended target for those rounds in order to stop the threat. In short, it is imperative that we
train
and get it right for when it really counts.
Likewise, the same principles are in place from a spiritual perspective as we'll explore through the following four points (hey it's a Bible study -- you gotta have "points"):
(1) NO SECOND CHANCES
God, the ultimate servant-warrior
(Exodus 15:3),
tells us in His Word -- the Bible (the ultimate "policy and procedure manual") -- that we have but one life to live on this earth. Moreover, the Bible also reveals that if we die without being in a genuine, life-saving/life-changing personal relationship with God in Christ (a "Christian" as God alone gets to define the word), there are
no second chances
(no "do-overs" on the "range" of life). Here's what He tells us on this subject:
And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment, so also Christ was offered once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for Him.
(Hebrews 9:27-28)
(2) MISSING THE MARK (off "target")
In
Hebrews 9
above and
throughout Scripture,
the word
"sin"
is used multiple times. As a shooter, you should find it interesting that this word is an ancient archery term that means
"to miss the mark."
Let me explain. There is a kind of archery competition in which a target is placed behind a steel deer silhouette with a small (usually 4 inches) square or circle cut away where the "kill shot" would be on a real deer. If you miss this circle or square (the
"bullseye"
-
- dead center mass), your arrow will be destroyed when it hits the steel. As someone who once competed in archery, there is a very distinct feeling that comes from the sound of your arrow when it
"
misses the mark"
and shatters as it strikes steel instead of the bullseye.
So what does God have to say on this subject in His Word? Let's look at just these 4 passages:
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...
(Romans 3:23)
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord
(Romans 6:23)
None is righteous, not even one...No one does good, not even one.
(Romans 3:10-12)
There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death
(Proverbs 14:12)
The words "all" and "none" (no one) used here mean just that -- ALL and NONE (be sure to scroll down to the
"Good Person Test"
below). Clearly, when you miss the mark -- or
sin
-- in a steel archery competition or the range, you just ruin your arrows or have to re-qualify, but it is far worse when you miss -- sin -- when it counts or in the "competition" of life where your "miss" (even one miss) comes with an eternal (no escape)
death sentence.
So are you ready to answer for you SIN?
(3) FRONT SIGHT FOCUS
If you're like most people, you desire to go to heaven. You may even wrongly believe that you're entitled (deserve) to go. However, God reveals that, without first being right with Him, you're
focus
won't be where it should be and you will in fact be off target (a "miss" with eternal consequences).
You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
(Matthew 7:13-14)
Note the words "gate," "narrow" and "difficult" and you get the idea of making a difficult archery shot, or a life and death head shot under stress at distance, and you get the picture -- a
sight picture.
Now you might try to be worthy of "the prize" -- ultimately heaven -- by living what you would call a "good" life or through your "good" service in law enforcement. But this is simply a failed attempt (a miss) to establish your own
righteousness
("righteous" -- a word found on our memorial in Washington -- "hmm..."), but God tells us:
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy...
(Titus 3:4-5)
(4) HOW TO GET "ON TARGET"
Getting "on target" in our police world means consistently TRAINING to develop the skills to have a crystal clear,
front sight focus
. Spiritually speaking, this means our
"front sight" is Jesus
and Jesus alone (crystal clear), with the "target" ultimately being heaven and not the distractions and temptations of this life. So what does that look like from God's perspective (His being the only perspective that matters)? Consider the following:
Let all the world look to me for salvation! For I am God; there is no other.
(Isaiah 45:22)
There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
(Acts 4:12)
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."
(John 14:6)
Friends, unless your
front sight is Christ
through a genuine, life-saving/life-changing personal relationship with Him alone, you're going to be "off target" and miss the mark
(no "other" way).
And to "miss the mark" is just like the arrow that hits steel instead of the bullseye -- a shattered, destroyed life. Praise God, so long as we have breath (and ONLY so long as you have breath), we have the ability to get "on target" (saved) through a 180 degree turn (to
"repent"
-- see below) and placing our whole trust
(front sight focus)
in Christ alone. Accordingly, it is again with a
Code 3
(lights and siren) sense of urgency that I implore you to get it right. How? See the
Know God?
section below.
_______________
KNOW GOD?
(1) Do you hold to an utterly false hope that you can "earn" or otherwise "badge" your way into heaven and escape hell because you consider yourself to be a "
good
" cop or a "good" person (the "I'm good" mess)? That you can be "good" enough without knowing Christ as Lord and Savior? That mere "belief" is enough to "save" you? That you somehow "deserve" heaven because of your so-called "good" service in law enforcement? Take the
Good Person Test
and see how you do!
(2) Jesus' first recorded words in His earthly adult ministry included,
"Repent and believe in the Good News...
" --
Mark 1:15.
To
repent
is a "180" -- a complete,
radical
change of mind and heart as it relates to our sin (as God defines it). To "believe" (
pisteuo
in the original Greek) as Jesus intends it here is to wholeheartedly trust and
surrender
your life to Him in faith in the same way we have "faith" that our body armor will do its job against the rounds it is intended to stop; that a well-maintained weapon will function properly when used in against criminals intent on destroying us or others; or that our parachute will open when it is supposed to on a combat jump (we stake our very lives on it)! For more, see
What does it mean to believe in Jesus?
(3) This same concept of "
believe
" (the saving kind) is further revealed in
John 3:1-21
where Jesus says, "
... you must be born again
." Again, note our Lord's emphasis on the word "
must
" (not "may" or "should" or even "someday"): this is ultimately the life-saving AND life-changing personal relationship (and NOT "religion") with Jesus Christ that I stress here every week (see
What does it mean to be a born again Christian
? [hint -- there is no other kind]).
(5) Need more? Then check out this powerful, short video message that also comes to us from
Travis Yates
:
Cops and Salvation
(6) Have you now said "yes" to Jesus as Lord and Savior but are wondering what to do next? The "now what" is also an important part in dealing with the issues that can lead to suicide and sin in general. Click on,
Now what?
MC
