Are You Missing the Mark?

“As Jesus-followers, we are called to hit the mark. We are called to be a people who are neither legalistic nor libertine, but a people who are under grace and who live by its power.”

Frank Viola

Missing the Mark?

When a new believer first hears the definition of sin he or she will often hear it defined as “missing the mark.” It is true, that the Hebrew and Greek words for sin can be defined as “to miss” but does the word have a more grave definition than just missing the mark? Is there more to sin than just being off-target in our attempt to please God?

At one point in my life, I was an avid archer. I remember waking up on Christmas morning when I was sixteen to a new compound bow under the tree. I loved target practicing with my friends and remember how joyful it was as I got better and better at hitting the mark. The mark, of course, was the bullseye, and missing the mark wasn’t all that bad as long as you still hit the target. Depending on what was behind your target, missing it all together could be very serious.

Missing the Target

I believe that committing sin is more than just not hitting the bullseye, rather, it’s missing the target altogether and when you miss, there can be grave consequences. When we think of sin as simply missing the mark a bit, we tend to make light of it and don’t see the seriousness of it. But when we see sin as missing the target altogether it should cause us to take the consequences of sin more seriously. If I miss the target with my bow and arrow someone’s life could be destroyed, and unfortunately, many people’s lives have been shipwrecked and destroyed by not taking sin seriously.

No Trespassing

I prefer to see sin as a trespass (as the Old Testament commonly refers to it) because I clearly know what that means. I grew up in a rural countryside with huge amounts of forested land all around in which I loved to hunt and explore. If someone wanted to mark their territory as private property they either had to place proper signage stating so or apply purple paint to trees and fence posts which was the same as a no trespassing sign. When you saw that paint or no trespassing sign you knew not to enter that territory. When you trespass you cross a line and go somewhere you know you should not go. If I’m caught there are serious consequences.

Praise God for Grace

As Viola states above, we as Jesus-followers are called to hit the mark. And as Paul often says, we are “called to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord.” Missing the mark and willfully choosing to cross forbidden boundaries was part of our old way of life, but now we are empowered by grace to no longer live that way.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age”

Titus 2:11-1

We fall short of God’s glory when we willfully choose to sin. None of us are perfect but I see no reason why a Spirit-empowered disciple willfully chooses to sin. Christ came to not only forgive us of our sins, but to set us free from our sins. (Romans 6:18) “He who the Son sets free is free indeed.” (John 8:36) If you are still living a life of consistently missing the mark, trespassing, and crossing boundary lines that you know you ought not be crossing, then you have not been set free.

No Condemnation

One of the most powerful scriptures in all the Bible is found in Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” If you are one who considers yourself to be a Christ follower and you are consistently finding yourself in a pattern of giving in to temptation and committing sins please don’t be condemned. The blood of Jesus covers you, washes you, and cleanses you. Know that if you do your part (“If we confess our sins“) (1 John 1:9) King Jesus is faithful to do His part (“He is faithful and just to cleanse us of our sins and and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness“). (1 John 1:9).

Sure, you should feel conviction when you sin, but that is a good thing. If you don’t, then I would suggest that either you are not really saved or that you have hardened your heart, seared your conscious, and have become calloused and need to repent. I would say that you need to ask God for a hatred for sin and a love for holiness.

“One of the greatest weapons you can use against the kingdom of darkness is to live a holy life in obedience to Christ.”

John Ramirez

Happy Holiness, Joyful Righteousness

In Justin Rizzo’s 2008 song, This is True Life, there is a lyric at the end that describes holiness and righteousness as being happy and joyful. Those words changed my life many years ago as I meditated on them in prayer. I began seeing holiness and righteousness in a different light and wanted to sincerely feel the happiness and joy that came from living a holy life. I have found that it is possible to do so, it is possible to walk free from a lifestyle of willfully sinning, and it IS possible to hit the mark and no longer live in condemnation.

There Is Hope

If you are still struggling with sinful patterns in your life then I want to encourage you that there is hope and there is power through the Holy Spirit to break those patterns. Here is my encouragement for you:

First, I would caution to be diligent about what you are allowing to enter into your heart and mind (sinful movies, television shows, and music). If you are watching and listening to ungodly things then repent.

“To repent means to stop doing it. It means to “Go and sin no more,” as Jesus put it.”

Frank Viola

Second, I would encourage you to examine any generational patterns of sin that have been passed down to you from your ancestors (repent of those generational sins and break their power over your life by the blood of Jesus and the power of the cross).

Third, I would encourage you to spend quite time with the Lord and ask Him to show you any areas of your heart and soul that need to be healed. The enemy likes to attack us (especially when we are young) and bring great hurt and pain in our lives. This can come in the forms of sexual, verbal, physical, or emotional abuse. Thankfully, Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted and He wants to come in and heal every area of your wounded and broken heart.

Fourth, after you’ve taken the steps above then take authority over the demonic oppression in your life. The flesh will always be with us wrestling against our spirits but the pressure (oppression) that you often feel to give into temptation comes from demons. Thankfully, Jesus gives us full power and authority over demons, especially after you’ve closed the open doors above.

Need Help?

If you need greater help in overcoming sinful patterns in your life, (don’t be ashamed, many people do) then I would encourage you read, An Integrated Approach to Biblical Healing by Chester Kylstra. This book will help you greatly and will offer some powerful prayers that you can use to bring healing to your heart and soul and freedom from sinful patterns that you so eagerly desire. And if you need personal prayer ministry then you can find many available ministers through the network found in the book.