Goals & Refuge

August 4, 2011

 The game of tag is still popular with my youngest children and their friends, but they play with a twist not present in my childhood.  They play with a goal, a place of refuge where a person cannot be tagged.  They may choose a tree or a lamp post as their goal, a place to run when in danger of being tagged.  And they cannot be tagged as long as they are touching the goal.  Watching children play tag with a goal is the inspiration behind this article. 

 Most children begin the game edging away from the goal, just a little at first.  And when the person who is it (the tagger) comes near, they sprint back to the goal.  Sometimes I watch them leave the goal and taunt the tagger.  But sooner or later each child makes one of four mistakes.  Either a child:

       Ventured too far away from the goal,

2.       Miscalculated the speed of the tagger,

3.       Stumbled as the tagger pursued, or

4.       Lost focus and let the tagger sneak up behind them.

 Saints have similar goals.  O.T. saints had six cities of refuge (Num 35, Josh 20), but our thoughts shall stay on this side of the cross.  N.T. saints have the Lord (Ps 46:1, Ps 91:2).  We have faith and hope in the finished work of Jesus Christ (Heb 6:18, 1Pe 1:19) and find refuge in heavenly Jerusalem.  N.T. saints also have someone who is trying to tag them (1Pe 5:8).  The devil is waiting for a saint to venture too far away from the goal, miscalculate his speed, stumble or lose focus. 

So what’s a saint to do, live on the goal?  In a game of tag, people will call you chicken; and maybe you are.  In the game of life, people will call you chicken; but you are not.  The Book of Proverbs says you are wise.  Do you live in constant contact with the goal?  I’m afraid too many of us taunt the tagger.

Article Written by Elder Dolph Painter, Moriah Primitive Baptist Church

pastordolph@aol.com

This site created by Steve McCannon. This page last updated 08/07/2011