The Arrow

I recently discovered the television show, Arrow. If you aren’t familiar with Arrow, it is about the DC Comics character, Oliver Queen, and his hero alter ego, The Green Arrow. Oliver was a billionaire shipwrecked on a mysterious island for five years where he learned archery and martial arts in order to survive. After his rescue, he returns home to the fictitious Starling City to fight crime and right the wrongs caused by corrupt leaders in business and politics.

Initially, Queen has no qualms about killing for the sake of his brand of vigilante justice. As the story goes, however, Queen’s friend is killed, and in his emotional recovery, he decides that he must go about his hero work without taking a life. This requires a tremendous amount of creativity and restraint on The Green Arrow’s part to find new ways to fight crime and subdue criminals. As the ne’er-do-wells realize that Green Arrow is no longer in the killing business, they feel somewhat emboldened, believing they have a leg up in their struggle for Starling City. This leads Queen to ponder the concept of sacrifice and he comes to the realization that he must be willing to lay down his own life if necessary to save the city and people he loves.

There is a very poignant scene that really struck me after The Arrow defeated his arch nemesis. Throughout their epic battle, the villainous Deathstroke was goading Arrow to end his life, saying that no matter what happens, he wins. If Arrow is defeated in the battle, then Deathstroke wins, but if Arrow is able to defeat Deathstroke (which Deathstroke only thought would be possible in his own death) then Arrow’s hero mantle would be lost. Spoiler alert: Arrow was able to defeat his enemy without murder, which led Deathstroke to declare that Arrow’s unwillingness to kill exhibited his weakness. Arrow replied to the effect that his restraint did not show his weakness, but revealed his strength. He then thanked Deathstroke for helping make him the hero he could never be on his own.

I loved that scene. As I watched it, I could not help but think of Jesus saying, “ ” (John 15:15) It also brought to mind Romans 4.25 where Paul wrote, “He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.” Jesus willingly laid down his life to save us from our sins.

In the Greek language, ‘sin’ is actually an archery term which literally means, “to miss the mark”. If you’re familiar with The Green Arrow, you might know that he rarely misses his mark. Initially, his enemies feared him because of the lethality of his bow; what I love, though, is how he became a hero when he learned the power of sacrifice and restraint in order to save those he loved.

I had a seminary professor who once said something that stuck in my brain: GOD shows ultimate power in loving restraint. GOD has all the power and ability to strike us down when we miss the mark, but the fact the GOD does not – yet gives us grace for salvation through the forgiveness of sin – is evidence that GOD has a higher aim. We might feel that we get away with sin sometimes, but GOD sees it all. So to ensure that we are not lost in the sights of our enemy, Jesus laid down his life to save us.

If you have been missing the mark (and let’s face it, all of us have!), allow the Lord to take your hand, refocus your eye, and steady your aim. If you feel as though your empty quiver leaves you quivering through life, allow the Lord to fill it with love and assurance. If you need deliverance from the enemy, know the ultimate hero is nearby and never misses. May this encourage and embolden you to live your life with a new aim of faith, hope, and love!