“Aiming for Perfection”
September 16, 2012
Last week I had an interesting experience. I have a lot of interests and my life is never dull - but a lot of people are unaware of my interest is shooting. I grew up handling guns since I was a young boy. I shot expert with every gun they gave me in the army. But my favorite was, and is, the forty five caliber pistol. Every summer, when I go back home to Minnesota, we always have a pistol shoot out. And I do pretty well. But I have never gotten involved here in Mount Shasta.
Well, I attended my first shooting competition last week at the Dunsmuir Rod and Gun Club. I have been a member for a couple of years but I have never been involved in a shooting competition. I had a blast! I guess I did pretty well, too. I surprised a lot of people. But I know I can do better than I did. I have higher expectations of myself. I guess I am my own worst critic. Most people don’t know my background so they don’t think a preacher would be a pretty good pistol shooter. But then – I’m not your average preacher – am I?
Aren’t you glad that God can use each one of us with our unique blend of interests and talents? Paul said,
“...I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” I Corinthians 9:22
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” Ephesians 5:15-17
I think one lesson we can glean from my experience; one target we can shoot for- is that we need to be involved; we need to be engaged. To sit at home and watch the world go by is not the Christ-like way. People need to see us in the community. We need to take Christ to the community.
When I got to the gun club, I recognized some familiar faces. Most I didn’t know very well, but a lot of people knew me. One of the leaders came up to me and said, “Oh good! Glad to see you here Andy. Would you pray for us before we start?” I said, “I would be happy to.”
I think some of the guys kind of shrunk back a little – but then when I started shooting – and hitting what I was shooting at – I felt like they kind of said, “Ohhh! He’s okay! He can shoot!” And they became really friendly. Lent me ammo and gave encouragement and so on.
The Great Commission says to go...! Listen.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations...” Matthew 28:19
Before you can make disciples; before you can baptize them; before you can teach them to obey Jesus – you have to go. How are you doing at going? How are you at bringing Christ to the community? Our first target is to engage; it is to become involved.
Another target, secondly, is to be prepared. Usually, in just about any competition, the prize goes – not to the most talented – not even to the most experienced; but it usually goes to the best prepared. I did manage to get out on the range and shoot a box of shells last week. But you can’t expect to compete with the best by only going out once every few months. The best shooters usually are cops. It might have something to do with free ammunition – I’m not sure. But I am sure that to be the best in just about anything – you need to prepare. There are a lot of people in every endeavor who have suffered disappointment because they thought natural ability and talent would get them through. It won’t. It takes preparation.
Last week we talked about that being a part of the Christian Warrior’s armor. The Scripture says,
“and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.”
Ephesians 6:16 NKJV
Jesus said,
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’
“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:28-33
The bible teaches us that we need to be prepared. The wisest man who ever lived said,
“In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”
On facebook, one of the groups I belong to is called “preppers” and they are all into preparing for the coming economic and social collapse that many think are coming. I think the signs are showing that something very big could be happening soon. Life may change as we know it. Society may change as we know it. I think it is wise to be prepared. I have some water and long term food storage put away. I don’t want to be caught unaware. I want to be able to minister to people if something happens and if I am scrambling to feed my family – I won’t be able to do that. So I am trying to be prepared.
But as important as it is to be prepared in life – how much more important is it to be spiritually prepared. We are talking ETERNITY here. Everything else pales in comparison. The most important thing in life is to be prepared spiritually. The Bible says,
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9
What is the goal of our faith? What is the target we are shooting for? It is the salvation of our souls. May you hit a bullseye as you aim for salvation. You won’t do that without being adequately prepared.
Another target, thirdly, is to aim for the right target. In my shoot-out we had three different stations. The first station I shot at I had to shoot three targets to my left – reload – then shoot three targets to my right. It was all timed. Then I had to do it again with an unsupported grip. In others words, you could only use one hand to hold the pistol. The first three targets on my right I had to shoot with only my right hand. Then reload. Then shoot the three targets on my left, offhand – or with my left hand only. It was tough.
The next station had four targets on a tree, then three standing silhouettes and the finial target was made out of medal. If you shot that one out of order – you were deducted points.
The finial station was similar. There was a group of targets with the middle one being the last to be shot. If you shot that target out of order points were deducted.
I think in life a lot of Christians aim for the wrong target. Some are just aiming for salvation. That is our ultimate target – but it is just one of many. The Bible says,
“Finally, brothers... Aim for perfection...” 2 Corinthians 13:11
“So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it.” 2 Corinthians 5:9
Those are a couple of worthy targets. The first one is to aim for perfection. Someone may say, “That’s impossible! We can never do that! Why even try? That is an unrealistic expectation!”
What if those guys had that attitude at the shoot out? We can’t shoot a perfect score! Why even try?” Did you notice that the Scripture says AIM for perfection? It doesn’t say BE perfect. We can never be perfect in our actions here on earth. Our equipment is too flawed. It’s like shooting a thousand yard target with a smooth bore rifle. It isn’t likely to happen. But that doesn’t meet we aren’t to try. I think it is in the trying that we please the Master. It is in the trying that we can attain perfection. Not perfection of action – but perfection of heart; Perfection of intent.
See, God looks at the thoughts and the intents of our heart. And as we AIM for perfection – we achieve perfection; perfection of the heart. Our target is perfection. Let’s at least AIM for it.
Don’t forget that other target. Our goal needs to be to PLEASE Him. Ultimately, in everything we say; in everything we do; we need to aim to please Jesus. It’s His opinion of us that is the most important. Sure we ought to please out mates and please out bosses; and please our neighbors if we can. But it is never at the expense of pleasing Jesus.
In everything you do – would you ask yourself whether this act would please Jesus - or not? Would you consider whether your actions would meet with His approval – or not. We need to aim for perfection and make it our goal to please Jesus. The prize will be worth it.
And let’s talk about the prize. When I won the Grossman shoot out one year I got a ratty home made clay pigeon that declared me the winner. It quickly broke and got trashed. But I valued that silly thing – because it showed the world that I was a winner.
At our shoot out last week, there were no prizes. And in reality our only competition was ourselves. We had the satisfaction of being involved in something bigger that usual.
Paul said,
“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Are you working for the prize? We don’t even know how great that prize will be – but we know there will be no sorrow there; no tears; no separation from loved ones. The prize is a crown of glory. The prize is to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
It will be worth it. Don’t get discouraged! Don’t be defeated! Don’t be deterred by the things of life. Fix your eyes on target; fix your eyes on Jesus – and remember:
1. One target is simply to get involved. Get into the fight. Join the competition.
2. The second target is to be prepared. Prepare yourselves by studying the Word and praying and practicing what you learn.
3. The third target is to aim for perfection. Aiming isn’t hitting it. But for sure you will never even come close unless you aim for it.
Would you join me in taking a chance? Would you join me in getting involved? Our mission is to take Christ to the community. Let’s do that. Let Jesus use you this week to accomplish His will – through you.
SONG
