It was Awful

A few years ago our Pastor preached on

Psalms 127:4
As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.

Psalms 127:5
Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate. He had a man who was an expert marksman with bow and arrows do some fancy shooting; I was amazed at his marksmanship. Not knowing much about a bow or an arrow I knew that that was not the first time he had shot an arrow for he didn't miss his mark. After seeing his marksmanship a call went out for a volunteer, a young lady that had two young children volunteered and a large apple was placed upon her head. The marksman stepped back 50 feet pulled the arrow back and with good aim and much attention let it go. The arrow soared through the air at a speed so fast it was hard for the human eye to keep up; and as faith would have it the arrow dropped low and went right through that young ladies head. It was awful and what you just read is true except for the apple and the young lady with two children. But how did you just feel as you read that? The Apostle Paul gives us a word picture of an archer who misses the target. This idea of the archer is used three times.

1Timothy 1: 6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

1Timothy 6:21
Which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Grace be with thee. Amen.

2Timothy2:18
Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

In 1Timothy 1: 5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (sincere) The same Greek word is used and it means (an aim); to miss the mark, that is, (figuratively) deviate from truth: - err, swerve. Paul tells us that the end or aim of the shooter is love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and sincere faith. This is the real mark or target at which to aim. Some had not only missed the mark, but were aiming at the wrong target. They had also made shipwreck of the faith like a sailor throwing overboard his compass and his navigational chart.

1Timothy 1:19
Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: So what's going on with this faith, missing the mark, ship wrecking and departing from the faith?

1Timothy 4:1
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Here we find those that have been enlightened but they never were truly regenerated. There were those who knew about God but didn't really know Him as their Savior. As long as all was well count them in, but the minute things began to get rough they forgot where and what the target was and they soon had a ship wrecked faith. The reason being they never had "The Faith." Paul tells the Church at Corinth to examine or prove themselves to see whether they are in the faith or not.

2Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

John Wesley had this to say about that verse 2Corinthains 13:5 Prove yourselves - Whether ye are such as can, or such as cannot, bear the test - This is the proper meaning of the word which we translate, reprobates. Know ye not yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you - All Christian believers know this, by the witness and by the fruit of his Spirit. See it's very important that we pass this exam for if we; like the good man in

Luke 16 don't take the time we will end up as he did. Here is the answer to the exam

2Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence. Make sure you hit the target!