Sighting In

I took time to sight in my rifle this week. One problem I had was just how far off I was with every shot. Without knowing just where I made contact, I had no way of knowing if my scope was too far up, down, left, or right. A larger piece of paper or cardboard was necessary to see just how far off I was, and only then would I be able to correct the scope and make contact with the target. After too many shells, and more dirt flung than I care to admit (sorry about your yard, Bill), the scope was adjusted and I made contact with the target. When I hit the paper, it was only a matter of little adjustments to sight in the rifle. Watching the spread move up and to the right, up and to the right, and finally up and to the right, and center!

The Lord provides a far better means of evaluation. Without eyes of faith, it is very hard for us to correct, adjust, or even know how to do what is right. We aim and fire in whatever direction we see fit. But when the Lord intervenes, when we look to Him for a proper self-evaluation, only then are we able to make sense of our situation, only then can we find the joy of correction. David says it so powerfully in Psalm 19:12, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from my hidden faults.” What does David do after acknowledging His faults and blind spots? He writes in prayerful humility, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24). Without knowing how faulty our ways, how can we ever find direction? Without the pure standard of God’s Word, how can we seek worthy correction?

What a joy it is to know, even as we are corrected by the Spirit through the Word, He continues to adjust us toward the righteous target of Jesus Christ, our Savior.

Pastor Chris