The Last Arrow by Erwin McManus uses the story of Elisha’s meeting with the king of Israel as the foundation of his book. We see that Elisha instructed the king,

He said, “Open the window toward the east,” and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot!” And he shot. And he said, “The LORD’S arrow of victory, even the arrow of victory over Aram; for you will defeat the Arameans at Aphek until you have destroyed them.” Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground,” and he struck it three times and stopped. (2 KIngs 13:17-18)

God commanded the king to strike the ground and although He didn’t say how many times, He did not command him to stop. The king settled for less than what God wanted to do,

So the man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times.” (2 KIngs 13:19)

McManus challenges the reader asking, “Am I the kind of person who strikes three times and then stops, or am I the kind of person who, when commanded to strike my arrows, keeps striking and striking and striking unti there are no arrows left?” (p. 10).

The Last Arrow isn’t about what you can do or could do; it’s about what you must do” (p. 26). He challenges the readers to step out of their comfort zones and commit themselves fully to God, “Frankly, over the years, many young men have come and asked me how they can have my life, but what quickly becomes clear is that they want the life without the path. They want my life without my wounds; they want my life without my scars. In fact, they don’t actually want my life; they want the rewards” (p. 71).

McManus fears that too many people are simply existing rather than experiencing a full life, “Most of us are not choosing between life and death; we are choosing between existence and death” (p. 96). When we choose to live as God intended, then we realize that our lives affect others, “The last arrow moves you past what God will do for you to what God will do through you. The last arrow strikes only when we must act not only as if our lives depend on it but as if the lives of others depend on it as well” (p. 106).

We need to live with full commitment rather than waiting for ideal conditions. “The great tragedy would be to live your life waiting for that moment to come instead of living your life preparing for when the moment comes” (p. 195).  This book will inspire you step out in faith trusting God for great and mighty things. If you’re thinking of settling for less than God’s best, this book is a healthy antidote. (I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review).

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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