“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 NKJV

“The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.” Proverbs 8:22 NIV

“And He has made My mouth like a sharp sword; in the shadow of His hand He has hidden Me, And made Me a polished shaft; In His quiver He has hidden Me.”  Isaiah 49:2 NKJV

What beautiful words. When threaded together they create a picture for us of what was before time. The Word, which is Christ, was with God from the beginning. He was the first of God’s works, begotten of God, hidden in His quiver until His appointed time when He came from eternity as a polished shaft to bring Light into our darkness.

To better understand this term, the NLT has used the phrase ‘a sharp arrow’.

Now, we understand that Christ was a polished shaft or sharp arrow. The word polished can be taken in different ways in this verse. It could mean polished until it is gleaming or it could mean skilful, accomplished in its purpose. Both are true of Christ.

“We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”  John 1:14b NIV

We read here of One who is glorious, for there is no one like Him in all of Heaven, perfect in grace and truth. He was polished, set apart and ready to be sent from the depths of eternity into a world of darkness.

He came as a polished shaft, piercing the fog of unbelief that hung over humanity for centuries. He accomplished this as a sharp arrow with incredible skill, power, strength, speed and acute accuracy.  He brought Salvation to the world, destroying the works of darkness. 

The Arrow of Light still:

“shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:5 NLT

He was hidden in the quiver of God until the right time came for Him to be revealed. His work was thorough, complete and eternal; for He:

“disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.” Colossians 2:15 NKJV

Today, Christianity is the biggest religion in the world. There are people from every continent who have turned to Christ. The arrow has hit its mark and brought down our enemy, dispersing the fog of hopelessness that hung over man. Now, we can look up and believe, changing our ways and receiving salvation.