When I was in the 7th grade, my family lived on 11 acres of land with a large creek as one of its boundaries. My father used this property to graze his small herds of Black Angus cattle and Shetland ponies. My mother used this property to grow her vegetable garden. And I used this property to have a whole lot of fun, usually down by the creek with my dog, sleeping bag and fishing gear. But another way I had fun there was with my bow and a quiver full of target arrows. To feed our livestock during the winter months, my father kept our barn loft stocked with bales of hay. I would roll a bale out of the loft and, propping it upright on one of its ends, use it as an archery target.
One day I propped a hay bale upright, walked about 20 yards away, turned around, fitted my arrow, aimed … and then stopped. The bale was leaning slightly forward. Thinking that I could straighten it up by shooting the arrow into the top of the bale, I let it fly. But instead of straightening it, the arrow actually caused the bale to lean just a little more forward. “I didn’t hit it hard enough,” I thought; so I shot again. But that only caused it to lean a little bit more forward. With exceptional smart, I kept shooting my arrows – one by one – into that bale of hay, trying to knock the top of it backwards. But with each one, all I did was cause it to lean more and more forward.
Even today in my mind’s eye, I can still see what happened with arrow # 19. As it thudded into its target, the bale of hay fell forward into a cloud of dust, its full weight cracking and splintering and breaking every one of my arrows. All nineteen of them … ruined … while trying to prop up a lost cause!
Tell me, how is it that a fairly sane 12-year-old could not realize that all those good arrows were going to be shattered while trying to straighten a tottering target! Was it not obvious that the bale would fall forward? Did I not have enough foresight to see that it was only a matter of time before it came crashing down? Why did I fail to see the inevitable?
You know, it is possible for us, as believers, to do that same thing … to “shoot our arrows into a leaning bale of hay.” We can be so distracted promoting our own earth-bound interests that we end up investing the bulk of our priceless time … and strength … and resources … and opportunities … and abilities in something that will one day pass away.
Do not love the world nor the things in the world … The world is passing away. (1st John 2:15-17)
Do you believe that? Do you believe that
the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless. (2nd Peter 3:10-14)
We, the true and living Church, are not in the dark. We have been told what’s coming. We do not know the when, but we do know the what. We are keenly aware of how distracting the things of this world can be as they are dangled in front of us. But we also know from God’s Word that “the earth and its works” will one day be burned up.
We already know that this “bale of hay” is going to come crashing down.
We have also been told that our lives are going to be examined by an all-knowing Judge. God’s Word tells us that the quality and the motive of our labors will one day be “revealed with fire.”
Now if any man builds on the foundation (i.e., his salvation through Jesus Christ) with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work. If any man’s work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire. (1st Corinthians 3:12-15, parenthesis added)
Do you believe what your Bible says? Do you believe that one day you will give an account of your choices?
For it is written, “AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.” So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God. (Romans 14:11-12)
My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, we have been given the “heads up” as to what is in front of us; and we should not ignore it. Knowing that our approaching evaluation is certain, let us not squander our resources. Rather than giving our hearts to the sparkling tinsel this tottering world offers, let us cultivate a devotion to the riches of God. Let us live our lives with an eternal perspective. Otherwise, we will spend our entire life shooting our arrows into a leaning bale of hay.
If you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-3)
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Finally, brethren, pray for us that the Word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord concerning you, that you are doing and will continue to do what (He) commands. May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. (2nd Thessalonians 3:1-5)