An Arrow Pointing to Jesus

Ben Pearson is a photographer who took many pictures of Rich Mullins.  In the clip below, he describes the final picture he ever took of Rich:

In the mid to late 90s, I did not watch the news, and I did not listen to radio stations.  My music intake came solely from my personal collection of CDs.  So, on Sunday morning, September 21, 1997, when I arrived at church, one of the kids in the youth group I worked with approached me and asked me if I had heard the news.  When I said no, she told me that Rich Mullins had been killed in a car accident over the weekend.

This year marks 25 years since his death.  Perhaps I should wait until Sep. 19 to post this (the actual date of his death).  However, I am introducing a series that will focus on the writing of Rich Mullins, and how it is applicable to us today.  I will be writing a blog post at least every week to discuss Rich’s music. 

A couple of years after Rich’s death, his friend and theologian, James Bryan Smith, wrote a book about his life titled:  Rich Mullins: A Devotional Biography: An Arrow Pointing to Heaven.  This book centered on the theme of Rich’s life which was to “Be God’s.”  That is, he was always encouraging people, just as he was always trying to do, to be fully devoted to God.  In that way, I think that maybe the title of the book, An Arrow Pointing to Heaven, gets it wrong.

As Christians, we need to live our lives as arrows that point to Jesus.  The distinction?  Heaven is where we are going, Jesus is who we are in relationship with.  Heaven is the kingdom.  Jesus is the King.  Heaven is the place.  Jesus is the person.

It’s nice to point to heaven, but people need to know how to get there.  Jesus is the Way!

Rich Mullins was definitely an Arrow Pointing to Jesus, and it can be seen in his songs, his magazine articles, interviews, concert performances, etc.

If you are a Christian, then people know it.  Your job is to be an Arrow Pointing to Jesus.  It should be evident in the lifestyle you lead, the words you speak, and your reactions to every situation.

You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. (Matt 5:14-16 NASB)

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6 ESV)