“Finding Hope When Missing the Mark”

Romans 3:23-24 …”for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

Even seasoned hunters know all too well that in spite of best intentions and greatest efforts their aim is sometimes off the mark. As heartbreaking as it may be, a clean miss is actually a blessing compared to the gut-wrenching pain so often caused by a poor hit. Old adages are often recited to ease the discomfort – “we all make mistakes,” “we’re only human,” or “nobody’s perfect.” In life as well as in hunting, no truer words have ever been spoken. The apostle Paul tells us in Romans 3:23, “… all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Obviously, the overtone of this scripture has far greater relevance to our lives than to a rough day in the field. Sooner or later, each one of us will find ourselves off target and searching, often on our hands and knees, for a sign indicating which way to turn or what to do next. A sure sign of hope is found in Romans 3:24 when Paul confirms that through faith we “… are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Take it from me, a sign of hope when your life is off the mark will make you want to shout “Hallelujah”! And, it may not be you who is presently struggling with clean misses, bad hits, or just headed down the wrong trail altogether. It may be your hunting buddy, a friend, or relative. If so, lend him an ear and a helping hand. You just may help him find what he’s looking for … or more importantly, the true source of hope, Jesus Christ. There’s nothing like having a friend come along side when you are searching. As Romans 10:15 says, “… how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

Posted by Ainsley Beeman