The Last Arrow: Save Nothing for the Next Life

When I leave this world, I want to leave a hole in it from where my life counted. I want to be missed. I want people to come to my funeral because in some way I touched their life. I want to know that my life counted. That is why The Last Arrow: Save Nothing for the Next Life, written by Erwin Rachael McManus, resonated with me. This book is a combination of personal stories experienced by the author with sound teaching. It is about making your life count and how that is accomplished.
McManus is the pastor of Mosaic, the community of faith in Los Angeles, and is probably best known for his book The Barbarian Way. His books have sold over a million copies worldwide and he is a nationally sought after speaker. I heard him speak many years ago at a Promise Keepers meeting for men.
The premise of this book comes from the Old Testament story in 2 Kings 13 where King Jehoash, the King of Israel, goes before the dying prophet Elisha after his kingdom has been threatened by Amaziah, King of Judah. You will need to read the Scripture to get the whole story, but when Jehoash is told to take the arrows in his quiver and strike the ground, he only strikes the ground three times. This angers the prophet who desired for the king to strike the ground five to six times because by striking it only three times only partial victory was assured. The prophet felt as if the king left something on the table. He felt the king settled for less.
McManus feels that this translates to us as Christians in that we too leave things unfinished and never rise to our full potential. He states that we should die with our quivers empty because we have given our all in this life.
Ironically McManus goes back into the life of the prophet Elisha himself to prove what a life of striking the last arrow looks like. Perhaps that is why Elisha is so angry at the king for only striking his arrows three times. The books takes you from the calling of the prophet Elisha, through his life, to his death, and to after he has died. It catalogs what made the prophet Elisha so effective that even after his death, he made a difference.
Throughout his teaching McManus introduces us to some extraordinary people that are scattered all over the world. He weaves their lives with the example of the prophet to teach us how we can live such a life. The author also tells personal stories of his own adventures including recently being diagnosed with cancer himself.
The book is 224 pages but easily read. It has a great flow to it and the stories keep you reading wanting more. I found myself stopping only to take time to tweet out a quote taken from the book. There are plenty of tweetable quotes.
My overall impression of the book is that this is a powerful book that could be a game changer in the life of a reader. It is challenging. Probably my favorite two chapters were chapter 7 entitled “Stand Your Ground” and chapter 8 entitled “Find Your People.” I will go back to those chapters time and again. The price of the book is $22.99 which seems a little high but that is why we have book discounter sites for right? I had just a few moments in the book where my personal theology cringed just a bit but overall it was sound. If you want to do some heart work in your own life, then pick up this book today.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.

Though the topic of this book isn't really new, Erwin approaches it with a fresh lens and one of the most authentic voices within the church. Few writers have the passion and conviction that Erwin brings to the table. He does a great job of balancing the drive achieve more with our lives and the reality that we will face failures at some (or several) steps of the process. I thought the blending of Erwin's personal stories and biblical narratives within this book gave his topic a varied perspective that allowed me to wrap my mind around his theme from a few different angles. I highly recommend this book!

The Last Arrow, comes from a place in Erwin Raphael McManus' life of looking death in the face and becoming/being ready to explore the future. Faced with cancer and the coming end of life possibilities McManus had a decision to make: face death head on or wallow in the misery of his pain. If you have read any of his other writings the answer is clear...death better wait, Erwin's making the most of life!

If you have faced a similar scenario the questions and thoughts raised will resonate within your soul. If you have not been through any potential end of life scenario but are thinking about your future self, read, be challenged, and come out changed.

I came across this book while looking for Youversion plans. After going through the 5 day plan, I knew I had to read the full book. From start to finish, I found every chapter so relevant to where I currently am in my life. I’ve always enjoyed Erwin McManus’ writing style and his outlook on the Scriptures.

For me, chapter 3 alone was worth the price of the book. I’m currently going through a season where I’m “burning some of my past identity” as Elisha did after being called by Elijah.

I’m sure I’ll be giving this book another read in the near future!

There is no doubt "The Last Arrow" in on the top 10 list for me this year and probably top 3. Erwin has packed a knock out punch in this book, life is too short and too precious to squander. Spend your days making a difference and living, not just existing. One could use this book as a years worth of daily dowse of courage and encouragement to live life to the fullest. And by the way, we don't just live for us, we live for those we will impact by living life to the fullest. Outstanding book...

The Last Arrow - Save Nothing for the Next Life is one of those books that can't simply be read; it must be digested, pored over, and thoroughly examined. Erwin Raphael McManus takes a barely noticed incident in the life of the prophet Elisha, and uses it to urge us all to pursue a passionate life, wasting nothing. This book was deeply personal to me in that I have spent the majority of my life doing just enough to "get by" in my spiritual growth. "The Last Arrow" helped me to realize that God is calling me (all of us) to go "all in" with our entire beings when it comes to living a life of purpose. For the high school student to the senior adult, this book compels, inspires, urges, and challenges us all to keep shooting until all of our arrows are gone. Because when our lives are over, what are we going to do with the arrows we kept anyway? I highly recommend this book to anyone, but especially to those like me who know in their hearts that God has created them for more.

This is one of my favorite Erwin books! If you can, buy the audio version or listen to some of his sermons online that tie into the theme of the book. I especially recommend listening to his Battle Ready talk! The book takes on a far richer meaning when you hear this talk... one of the best I have heard in my life. I am so thankful that I got to witness his preachings that formed this book years ago at Mosaic. I have since moved and have not been able to find a church community like Mosaic. A huge part of that has to do with Erwin's heart for those who have yet to fall in love with Jesus and the community he has created within this church!

From beginning to end McManus calls for expecting God to give His best. Reminding the audience that God doesn't give everything, every time without us giving to Him our complete devotion and expecting more.

Full of personal stories, and stories from the lives of those McManus has met along the path of life you can sense that is value to expecting more than average. The connections to the pages of the Bible show that God has done more than people have expected too many times for us to play it safe.

So strike the arrows, not once, not twice, not three times, but over and over until there are none left.

I didn’t really come to enjoy reading and appreciate good books until I was partially through college, and even then, it was more about finding books I liked but had to read for assignments. Since then, I’ve come to enjoy reading, but as a result of being a “late-bloomer” I’ve often come across books that I wish I had read in my younger days. Although it wasn't around then, The Last Arrow would be one of those books. This is something that anyone should read, but I’d especially recommend this to a college student or someone early in their career as it helps provider focus to one’s life.
The Last Arrow deals with the prominent themes of living a life chasing after God. Life has meaning when connected to God. It provides adventure. Life with God gives one identity. It’s about creating a future not focusing on the past. It’s about community.
McManus will encourage and inspire you to move forward. Through the story of Elisha and Jehoash, he shows that life was not meant to be passive. We can’t choose safety, and that there is a sense of urgency in the lives God has called us to. We need to put it all on the line.

This is a wonderful, insightful, psychologically and spiritually sound book that I have and will continue to recommend to many people. And I'm a psychologist, so I know a good book about self-help when I see one! This is well written and for those who went the audible route it is well read, too, by the author himself (which is nice, as you get to hear his emphasis on various words and concepts).

If you want to stop making excuses and start living the life you feel you have been called to live-start by reading this book! You will be glad you did-I know I am!

Wake Up, you are being called!!! Erwin's words and stories craft life into action. There is no time like the present to realize that the greatest part of your life is ahead. Erwin encourages us to use every last arrow to achieve God's purposes for our life. This is a must read for anyone that feels weary in their day to day life. These words will wake you into action to grab your quiver of arrows and shoot until there are no more. These life giving words are so good. I encourage you to read it, it's a true game changer.

I’ve been a big fan of Erwin McManus for many years now. I was really excited to dive into this book. I thought it started really strong as he unpacked the biblical story that inspired the concept for the book. I was really impressed how he was able to pull out nuggets of truth and such fresh perspective from such a relatively obscure passage of scripture. Couple that with the many inspiring stories he tells throughout the book and it makes for a great read. My only critique is I felt the book leaned really high on inspiration and motivation, but lacked a little in substance and application. So if you’re needing some fresh motivation on getting the most of out of life and seizing the moment, this is the book for you. All in all, good read.

I have been reading Erwin's books for over 15 years and The Last Arrow ranks right at the top! Erwin always challenges the reader with relatable stories of encouragement supported by scriptural Truth. He is more than willing to share his own fears and shortcomings for the benefit of those readers who need a gentle push or a forceful shove to engage in the life God wants us to live. Thank you Erwin for continuing to write enlightening books! I thought Artisan Soul was your pinnacle, you have surpassed that high water mark!

You know when a book comes at the perfect time in your life? Well I'm glad Erwin McManus decided to write this particular piece of work. The Last Arrow, for me, was a wake up call to ask myself if I'm living the best life possible through Gods lens & love for my life. It walks us through the heart & life of Elisha. A man who pushed forward, with integrity and passion. I needed Erwin's book to remind me that I'm called to so much more, that settling can be destructive to the soul, and to live in a way that I gave EVERYTHING I had until my last dying breath. I'd recommend this title to anyone who needs to be reminded that greatness is just around the corner, if you just have the courage to take the first step. A must read!

Manning has once again written a tour de force. The book is simple but powerful, and he has thrown the gauntlet down in challenging the reader to now waste the precious little time we have in this life. To think about everything they do in light of eternity. I would highly recommend this book.

Like dry wood on a fire, Erwin’s words added fuel to my own desire to pull hard and finish well. For me the book reads like I’m sitting with Erwin in a coffee shop having a conversation with him. Want to be encouraged and inspired to rise again, with fresh confidence in the God who created you? To hold nothing back...leave everything on the field of life? This is the book for you.

I was curious about the 1 star and 2 star reviews. Interesting how perceptions vary so. I found it curious that folks were so dismissive of one man's journey with life experiences and relationships that far surpass most, if not all, readers. So great we live in a world where we have the freedom to express our perceptions and opinions. I found the read informative, interesting, and woven throughout with the Torah/New Testament. It is inspirational to me when an author can make the mysteries of the Word come alive with real life.

Someone once said that the purpose of life is not to arrive safely at death. Erwin expounds on this thought, encouraging the reader to live a life that makes a difference, a life that is void of regrets when we get to the end, a life that wants what God wants. When we want and pursue what God wants, we will live life to the full, we accomplish our dreams, we do more than we ever thought we could. If you want more out of life, if you want to finish well, this book is a must read.

Erwin writes with a freshness and clarity that grabs you right from the first page. All of us want to live lives that count, Erwin gives us inspiration an steps to help us live a life that honors God from this day on. He encourages us to not leave any arrows in the quiver, to give our very best, all we have for the One who gave His very best for us. Since Jesus didn't hold back, neither should we as we pursue life with Him.

If you need a book to jump start your faith. If you are looking for a book to keep the momentum going. If you are just considering what faith in Jesus looks like, let Erwin show you the possibilities of what life with Jesus can be like.

An advanced copy of the book was provided for this review.

This book removed every excuse I've ever had not to move forward in my faith and in the purpose that God has called me to. Erwin shares relatable stories that let you peek into his life and experience pain and triumph alongside him. He also uses Biblical principles and Biblical characters to show the faithfulness of God in every situation. This book is a must read.

There are so many good parts to this book that encourage us to leave the past behind and live in the present and for the future. Loved the illustrations of real people and hjow they are living their passions and trusting God. This was my first time reading this author, so I was pleasantly surprised by sections of the book that spoke into my life.

What a fantastic book, I love the Artisan Soul, a previous book of Erwin, but this book, The Last Arrow is definitely his best. He pours his heart out on this book and you can feel it on every page.
You will be inspired to look at your life with fresh eyes, with refueled passion.
I can't recommend this book enough.

This is one of the best books I've EVER read!!! Erwin moves you to think about things in a whole new way!! The Last Arrow will encourage you to never leave anything for the next life...empty your quiver and live the life God intended you to live!! This is a great gift and you'll want more than 1 to give away. :)

As someone who reads all of Erwin's books, I am obviously a big fan to start. This book, however, is something special. Perhaps its due to him writing it during a cancer diagnosis, or where I am at in my life. Either way, this is hands down the best book Ive read this year. It will not disappoint.

Buy it for you, a friend and a family member. You will be inspired. This book is a great, easy read and very thought provoking We all need to be reminded to set our past on fire. Live every day to the fullest. Great job Erwin. Look forward to reading his other books.

Never quit. Never surrender. Go down swinging. Or in this case, empty your quiver!

Erwin encourages us to leave nothing in the tank when it comes to living our lives. Very inspiring, very encouraging.

An arrow only has value if you release it and your life only has value if you give it your all and live it to the fullest.

Totally inspirational! If your looking for motivation to journey into the plans and purposes that God has ordained for your life, this is the book for you! It’s time to take a step of faith into the destiny that God has called you to and leave your mundane comfort behind! It’s time to move forward and leave your past behind!

McManus challenges us as Christians in The Last Arrow. It was a refreshing perspective about creating your Christian future and declaring what you want that future to look like. I think the most compelling part was the responsibility of ourselves to creating a vision of what we want our life as a Christian to look like and understand that if we fail to declare what we want, pray for specifics, how can God help us create it?

I really enjoyed this book and the useful knowledge that Erwin provides. He has some great stories and I think that when reading the book you can apply the different tips to various areas of your life. It's a quick and easy read but full of great nuggets to keep in your pocket!

The Last Arrow – Save Nothing for the Next Life was the perfect book to read in this season of my life. Since retiring from the business law world, I started to volunteer my resources at my church. I read this book during this transition and now I am on fire to find creative ways to bring people to Christ. I believe that there is something new under the sun and I will now have an empty quiver when I leave this earth!

What an amazing book. I had the chance to read this book before it hit final print and all I can say is LIFE CHANGER! Erwin comes at this book with a raw honesty that I find wonderful. I have read this book a total of 3 times and have not got tired of it yet! If you want to read a book that will change the way that you are living your life this would be it!

I am listening to this book for the 4th Time. It is amazing. Full of insight and allows you to learn and connect with God. I am in awe of what I have learned. This has given me an insight into what God has planned for me. The great thing is this book is for everyone. Take a chance, read and grow..

Erwin McManus has done it again! The Last Arrow challenged me, grew my faith and has truly inspired me to give all that I have in this life for the plans that God has for me. I highly recommend this book for both old and new believers who want to "leave it all on the field" or more appropriately, use every last arrow God has given us to use in this life.

This book removed every excuse I've ever had not to move forward in my faith and in the purpose that God has called me to. Erwin shares relatable stories that let you peek into his life and experience pain and triumph alongside him. He also uses Biblical principles and Biblical characters to show the faithfulness of God in every situation. This book is a must read.

I have always enjoyed reading Erwin McManus' books. This one is very potent. It lays it all out on the line. For me, this creates a very convicting perspective. I have also enjoyed his use of some of the stories from the Bible that are not frequently referenced. Thank you for your openness and transparency in your writing. I have truly enjoyed reading "The Last Arrow".

As someone who reads all of Erwin's books, I am obviously a big fan to start. This book, however, is something special. Perhaps its due to him writing it during a cancer diagnosis, or where I am at in my life. Either way, this is hands down the best book Ive read this year. It will not disappoint.

This is one of the best books I've EVER read!!! Erwin moves you to think about things in a whole new way!! The Last Arrow will encourage you to never leave anything for the next life...empty your quiver and live the life God intended you to live!! This is a great gift and you'll want more than 1 to give away. :)

This is an excellent book. Erwin has a great ability of sharing stories, making Scripture come to life, and captivating the reader throughout. The Last Arrow is about giving until there's nothing left in your life- living to your fullest potential with no regrets. It is a must-read for all who desire for something more in their life.

As with every other one of Erwin's books this one did not disappoint. The challenge throughout this book to not leave any arrows in the quiver is a great reminder to give everything you've got with the time you've been given. None of us knows the days or the hour, but we must live with the end in mind.

Buy it for you, a friend and a family member. You will be inspired. This book is a great, easy read and very thought provoking We all need to be reminded to set our past on fire. Live every day to the fullest. Great job Erwin. Look forward to reading his other books.

Erwin takes us on another amazing journey of living with our quivers empty when our final day comes. This book has practical application and walks you through the valleys of holding too tight to the arrows we get. GREAT READ!

What a fantastic book, I love the Artisan Soul, a previous book of Erwin, but this book, The Last Arrow is definitely his best. He pours his heart out on this book and you can feel it on every page.
You will be inspired to look at your life with fresh eyes, with refueled passion.
I can't recommend this book enough.

We have 1 life to live. We choose how we live it. We can live it to the fullest or just stay what we think is comfortable. Why not go for it and know we did everything we could to change our world for the better.

Love this book! What a great reminder and kick in the butt about living life to the fullest. Why do we so often settle for average when there is so much more potential in us? This book is a must read for everyone, I would highly recommend it!

Erwin takes us on another amazing journey of living with our quivers empty when our final day comes. This book has practical application and walks you through the valleys of holding too tight to the arrows we get. GREAT READ!

This is a life changing-make me want to be a better human book! If you are struggling, this is the book for you...if you are striving to be a better follower? This book is for you. You. Can. Be. A. Warrior!

This book has encouraged me to ask some deep questions and understand why and what holds me back from becoming who God crafted me to become. If you want to dig deep and find the desire to hold nothing back read this book.

Pastor McManus continues to challenge us to let go of our fears and past failures and pursue a the life that God called is to live without regret. It doesn't matter you're age, it's never too late to strike your arrows!!!

This book could not be more relative to my life right now. Pastor Erwin speaks to the fears that hold us back and helps to reform mindsets to press into the future. Thank you Pastor Erwin for listening and speaking.

The Last Arrow is life changing. It calls its reader to a higher standard of life and sacrifice. It filled me with new motivation, hope, passion, and perseverance. Thank you, Erwin McManus! The Last Arrow is a GIFT.

Wonderful book, I feel energized, and focused... this book was just what I needed during this busy season of
Life. I highly recommend it if you're someone that feels spread thin and looking for the right direction!

The Last Arrow is must read for those who desire to Live the most intentional Life! Erwin inspires us all to be the best stewards of the Life God has given us. Erwin knocked it out of the park with this book!

For me the book was life changing and confirmation. Many of the principles taught were familiar so it was good to hear again. I felt this book was a must for me to read at this junction in my life. Great job!

One of the sloppiest books I’ve read in some time. McManus contends that we’re all born for greatness and abundance, but resort to mediocrity for any number of reasons (fear, ignorance, regret, etc.). And the passage he uses to illustrate this is an obscure Old Testament text, which doubles as the title of his book (2 Kings 3:14–19). It has nothing to do with living in “greatness” or “abundance” and his framing of these topics denigrates faithful living day-to-day, which is the majority of our Christian lives biblically-speaking.

At one point, McManus devotes a whole section of his book to talking about how the Bible is “wrong” when it says in Ecclesiastes that there is nothing new under the sun based on an personal interpretation of the text that could be easily solved if he’d pick up a commentary. There was nothing explicitly Christian about his message. An unbeliever could pick up the book and agree with everything he says. Ultimately, God becomes a means to our ends (dreams/passions/destiny) rather than the Lord of our lives.

The most shocking portion of the book came towards the end when he recalled the final words of Christ on the cross—“It is finished”— as an example of a “man” who did all he was born to do. His application of that text? That Christ lived a life without regret and a deep sense of fulfillment and we should go and do likewise. That’s as close to the gospel as he got and that’s an extremely dangerous message that misses the entire point of Christ’s ministry as well as the point of those words (“It is finished”).

There are so many great books available on Christian faithfulness and finding purpose in Christ. The Last Arrow is neither.

This book is absolutely incredible. Pastor Erwin McManus will challenge you to live your life to the fullest in order to fulfil Gods destiny and plan for your life!

Incredible read from one of my favorite authors. Highly recommended!

Erwin McManus’ book, The Last Arrow, is an eye opening
read using 2 Kings 13 as its biblical backdrop. The story of Elisha’s dealing with King Joash gives us a look at God’s provision and our obedience to His power. McManus admonishes us not to settle for just being average or ordinary. He charges us to put God to the test in our prayers for our lives. If we settle for small things, God will give us small things. Pray big or go home; God wants the best for us. McManus also reminds us not to let our past define us. Our past should not determine our future. All in all, The Last Arrow was a very enjoyable read with good practical advice for living a fulfilling life.