The prophecy about Jesus Christ in Psalm 45:3-6, contains the statement, "Your arrows are sharp". What are the "arrows" of God? Perhaps there are many answers to that question, but these words spring readily to mind: "Now abide faith, hope, love, these three —but the greatest of these is love" (1Co 13:13).

The Arrows of God (Part 1)

I would like us to think about faith, hope, and love, as the arrows of God. Now arrows need at least three things. Not only do physical arrows need these three things, but the arrows of God need these things too.

1 An Arrow Needs a Target

The first thing that an arrow needs is a target. Without a target to aim at, an arrow would seem to have little purpose. Archery without a target —just an undisciplined and aimless shooting of arrows into the air—would not make much sense. It would be as silly as a race with nowhere to run to and nothing to run for, or a boxing match where the opponents just beat the air (1Co 9:26).

When children play ball games, there is usually some kind of target —a wicket, a hoop, a goal square, or a target painted on a brick wall. But when children play with bubbles, they cannot do very much with them. Bubbles are nice, they are fun, but rather airy-fairy things, whereas balls are more serious and substantial things which can be propelled toward a goal. Our faith, hope, and love, must be like the balls, not like the bubbles.

If God's arrows are faith, hope, and love, then what are their targets?

In Colossians 1:4-5 we find not only faith, hope, and love, but their targets as well.

"We heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and your love for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven..." (Col 1:4-5).

• Paul speaks of "faith in Christ Jesus". There's the target of the faith arrow: Christ Jesus! You say to me, "Oh, I have faith!" But I ask you, who or what is the target of your faith? Is it a faith directed at Jesus Christ? Or is it an airy-fairy faith that isn't really looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith?
• Paul speaks of "love for all the saints". There's the target of the love arrow: all the saints! Of course this is not the only target of love; there are others. For example, there's love of God (Jude 1:20-21), and a love of the truth (2Th 2:10). You say to me, "Oh, I have love!" But I ask you, who is the target of that love? Is it a love directed at all your Christian brothers and sisters in Christ —and beyond them especially to all humanity in its great need of salvation? Or is your love directed at a tiny bullseye not much bigger than yourself —so tiny it is impossible to hit?
• Paul speaks of "hope laid up for you in heaven". There's the target of the hope arrow: heaven! You say to me, "Oh, I have hope!" But I ask you, what do you hope for? Is your hope directed at temporal things that last but a little while and then vanish away? Or is your hope in the spiritual blessings and promises that culminate in heavenly glory and eternal life?

An Arrow Needs Energy and Penetration