"You're a Range Rat!" (John 5:39-40)

Many years ago, I was an avid golfer. Well, perhaps I should qualify that statement. I loved to hit golf balls but only rarely did I find time to play an actual round of golf. Then, as now, it was difficult to find 5-6 hours to play a full round of golf, especially with a group of other players. So, I spent most of my time on the practice range. In fact, the cumulative time I spent there would easily surpass one round of golf per week. As one of my golfing colleagues correctly pointed out, “You’re not a golfer. You’re a range rat!”

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.
John 5:39-40 (ESV)

In my mind, I was a golfer but the truth was I evaded the real game and used my practice on the range as a substitute. The Pharisees were fanatical readers and memorizers of Scripture, but they were completely focused upon the task of memorizing rather than understanding the meaning and significance of the words they were reading. In their minds, they were devout Jews but there were substituting a task for true faith. They could not see the Scriptures all pointed to Jesus, who stood before them.

Don’t be a spiritual range rat! Prayer, reading the Bible, fellowship-these are not simply tasks to be completed. They are to encourage us to seek God’s will by believing in His Son, Jesus Christ. This is true spirituality, living a life to honor God!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.