If there is one thing that I would love to know more about it would be the fine art of karate. I have been mesmerized as I have watched masterful students of this unique Asian system of unarmed combat using their hands and feet to deliver and block blows. One part of karate that has always intrigued me is the ability that some students have of breaking boards in half. While I only speak from study and not actual experience, if one is attempting to break through a board and is aiming for a central spot on the board, he will almost always fail. In trying to process the goal, the brain understands the barrier and will subconsciously stop short of the goal. In order to successfully break a board, the student must aim about 2-3 inches below the board. In so doing, the brain is able to see past the board towards the ultimate goal, and the board naturally breaks in the process. What a parallel to Christianity! Consider:
Firstly, we sometimes subconsciously stop short outwardly. In matters relating to evangelism and outreach, we often are discouraged and dismayed due to a lack of observable fruit. We fail to see past the “board” and realize our ultimate goal, which is to simply plant and water the seed of God’s Word (Luke 8:11; 1 Corinthians 3:6). Even if not one single piece of visible fruit were seen, we must never stop short! Thusly, some congregations fail to place outreach high on the priority list, and as such, their work becomes inwardly focused instead of outwardly focused! We must never stop short outwardly!
Secondly, we sometimes subconsciously stop short inwardly. Sadly, some folks look at Bible study and worship as a “punch the card” type mentality. Some feel as long as they are present sometimes that they are good in God’s eyes. However, nothing could be further from the truth! How easy it is to forget that inward growth is a joy – a blessing, not just a requirement! The person who views Bible study and worship as a “requirement,” I fear may have missed the entire picture altogether. David affirmed, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD” (Psalm 122:1). Spiritual activities should never be seen as obligation, but as opportunities! This may be why some are late to enter the meetinghouse and quick to leave. The goal of spiritual activities is not to “punch a card,” but to educate and edify those who belong to Christ. We must never stop short inwardly!
Thirdly, we sometimes stop short upwardly. Jesus emphasized that true worship involves two elements (spirit and truth, John 4:24). Sadly, I fear we stop short in that we are concerned with the truth aspect to the neglect of the spirit. We can sing a scriptural song and fail to please God! Truth is just one element! While we can never please God by changing the truth aspect, we can never please God by neglecting the spirit! For example, to sing “I want to be a worker for the Lord” and fail to lift one finger in the vineyard is stopping short. To sing “Rescue the Perishing” and never leave the ninety and nine (cf. Matthew 18:12ff) to restore the fallen (Galatians 6:1) is stopping short. We must never stop short upwardly!
Surely one of the easiest sins in which a Christian can be entangled is to stop short in spiritual matters. Failing to see “through the board” causes us to become complacent, discouraged and lukewarm, thus causing us to stop short. Outwardly, inwardly and upwardly let’s see past the obstacles and break through to the opportunities that Christ has awaiting us!
