What does it mean to miss the mark?
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
Q: What does it mean to miss the mark? I’m a teacher and want to explain this to my students. – M.M.
A: The Bible says that sin is falling short of the glory of God [missing the mark]. Many people are unaware of the nature of the target, so they can’t understand why they’re told that they are missing it. Sin is any thought or action that falls short of God’s will, and we’re all guilty.
Imagine being blindfolded – completely in the dark. You’re told that there’s a dartboard across the room, and the objective is to hit it with a dart. You throw exactly the direction you’re told, but when the blindfold is removed, the dart has landed in the lampshade, three feet from the target. You aimed the right direction, but you missed. This is where the world is today, missing the target. It’s what King Solomon meant when he said, “There is a way which seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12, NASB).
Think of an archer who draws back his bow and sends the arrow on its way – but instead of hitting the bull’s-eye, it veers off course and misses the mark. The arrow may only miss a little, but the result is the same: the arrow didn’t land where it was supposed to.
The same is true of sin. The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NKJV). We can’t forgive ourselves, nor can we change our hearts and make ourselves better in God’s eyes.
Most of us are capable of almost anything, given the right circumstances. That’s the reason we must keep our eyes on Christ. He will never mislead us; He will never put us on the wrong path.
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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)
©2026 Billy Graham Literary Trust. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
(c)2026 BILLY GRAHAM DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
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