Can you find the bear?
If you are planning a picnic in Kootenay National Park in British Columbia,
beware! There is a smart black bear on the loose, and here's what he's saying
right now:
"He he he. I can't wait for some tourist to come along and eat their lunch. It's
unbelievable how gullible they are! They innocently park their cars and amble
over to these wonderful picnic tables. Meanwhile I am hiding behind these bushes
where no one can see me, patiently biding my time . . .
"I do have to be patient. If I scare them too early, they rush away with all of
their delicious food! No, it's far better to wait until they are all settled
around the table and have started eating that food that they THINK they have
prepared for themselves, but they have REALLY prepared for . . . For me! Then I
spring my entrance. Grrrrr! I make sure to growl really loud, and I put on my
most vicious face. I also have to move quickly-too quickly for them to grab
their food back up!
"As these predicable tourists run for the safety of their cars, I take my time
enjoying their delicious lunches. None of them ever dare to come back for their
food. They'd better not, otherwise I will pretend to go after them! My goal
isn't really to hurt them, only to scare them away, but they don't know that!
"You won't believe the thousands of delicious meals I have been able to steal.
It sure beats raw fish and berries! Hey, why don't you come on over and see for
yourselves? But be sure to bring your picnic along!"
Sounds a little bit like Yogi Bear, doesn't it? You know, Yogi bear who's
smarter than the average bear, Yogi bear who's always in the rangers hair, have
a picnic basket you will find him there, that's because he's smarter than the
average bear . . .!
Okay, so it isn't really Yogi bear, but it is a true story. We didn't personally
experience this smart bear because it was pouring rain the day we went through
Kootenay National Park on our way to Radium Hot Springs, but we were warned
about him by the tourist information centre in Field B.C. We figure he was
waiting for us anyway, wondering why these weak humans were so afraid of a
little bit of rain. My boys were disappointed. They actually WANTED him to steal
their lunches. Personally, I was pretty glad it was raining!
So often we fall for these kinds of hidden dangers. In fact, the biggest threat
of all is mostly ignored as non-existent, and billions of people have paid it
with a life of addiction.
This is real, folks! God doesn't tell us to be prepared for nothing! ("Put on
the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the
devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up
the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand." Eph 6:11-13 NKJV) The world is in a spiritual war
zone. The devil finds us easy prey for the addictions he hopes to lure us into.
Unawaringly we unpack our "lunches", only to find ourselves attacked viciously
by the intruder called sin, and once in its clutches, it is almost impossible to
find freedom.
The good news is that freedom IS attainable, by believing in the One who paid
the price for our freedom with His life. "He has sent me to proclaim freedom for
the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed…"
(Luke 4:18 NIV); and "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
(John 8:36 NIV)
Only with God's power can we resist the one who wants to take us as prisoners.
Only with God's power can we be free indeed.
Do you have a picnic lunch with you by any chance?
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.