Straight as an Arrow

Read: Ephesians 2:1-10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.                      Ephesians 2:10

     One of the most feared objects on the American frontier was an Indian arrow. As new land was discovered, many in the East gathered all of the belongings they had attained and headed west to the unknown. As their wagon trains rolled away from civilization, they were rolling into the land that belonged to Indians. Naturally, the Native Americans did not relish the fact that the land they had once freely hunted and cultivated was just being easily taken away. They decided to fight for it. Their weapon of choice was a bow and arrow. The Indians were experts at making the arrows they used with their bows – they had to make their own or be defeated. I can guarantee that they took the job seriously. They knew that their lives could one day depend on how well they did their job. They worked hard to make them straight and sharp so they would be effective.

     Psalm 127:4 says that a man’s children are like arrows in the hand of a mighty man. Your parents, then, have the responsibility to shape you into something that will be useful in fighting the enemy of the soul. Satan wants your heart as badly as God wants your heart. For an arrow to be shaped properly, it must be cut, chiseled, whittled, and sharpened. Your parents do the same to you, but it will not always be a pleasant experience. They will have to cut out certain friends from your circle, chisel down the bad attitudes, whittle away the flaws in your character, and sharpen your talents from God. But you can know that they are doing it for your good. God is creating you for a specific purpose; you have a plan for your life that you must fulfill.

     As you get older, the “arrow” that your parents have prepared will be put on the bow and shot out into the world, headed for the target it was intended to hit. If your parents raised you for God, then you have a specific destination. Have you ever noticed that an arrow doesn’t change course in the middle of its flight? Neither should you. Too many young people that have grown up in godly homes with good parents have become distracted by the world and changed course. Effective, well-made arrows hit their targets. Don’t fight against God’s intentions for your life – it is His plan for you.

Quote of the day: “An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backward. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means it’s going to launch you into something great. So just focus and keep aiming.”