A few years back four of us were camping in the hills of eastern Washington while we cut our winter’s supply of firewood. One morning when we got up, we saw many fresh cougar tracks around the camp. The cougar had frightened our horses, and three of them had run off into the woods.
We cut our quota of firewood as quickly as we could and then started off to look for the horses. It was late in the fall and we had quite a hunt. When we finally found them, it was starting to get dark.
The hillside where we had been cutting wood was almost straight up and down, so steep that there was no way we could ride two people on a horse. So the three older boys gave me the double-barreled shotgun to carry for protection, and they rode back to camp on the three horses, cutting across the fields and over the hills. Since I was alone and walking, I followed an old trail.
I wonder if you’ve ever been as scared as I was that evening, alone out there in the woods. Knowing that a big hungry cougar was lurking around, looking for a tasty meal, I could only think he might have his eyes on me! I can tell you I was mighty scared and alert to every little movement or sound that might be a sign of danger.
But do you know something? Every one of us ought to be even more scared of sin. It’s the biggest killer there is! And it can get every one of us, if we haven’t trusted the Lord Jesus to wash us clean of sin in His precious blood. I was thinking some pretty serious thoughts that night as I walked along that dark trail. And each of us needs to think serious thoughts about life and death as we walk through this dark world. There is no way we can get safely to heaven unless we come to the Lord Jesus and tell Him we’re sorry we’ve been so sinful, and accept His forgiveness. 1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) tells us that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Pretty soon I came to a big tree branch about ten feet high growing out over the trail. I stopped dead in my tracks. It was a perfect place for a big cat to wait. I was so scared by that time that I was sure the cougar was on that branch.
I crouched down behind a bush, hoping he couldn’t see me or smell my scent, all the time keeping my eyes fixed on that branch. But there’s no hiding from God. No. God sees us wherever we are and whatever we are doing. No sin is hidden from God. Proverbs 28:1313He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy. (Proverbs 28:13) tells us, “He that covereth [hides] his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
I kept staring at that branch in the darkness, and all at once I could pick out a dark shape. It looked like a cougar. I lifted the shotgun, took aim, and let go with both barrels! Immediately a big horned owl swooped down out of the tree. All I had done was scare an owl and probably every other animal around. There was no cougar.
After that all I wanted to do was to get back to camp as fast as my legs could carry me. And I did just that.
I want to get safely home to heaven too, don’t you? God tells us in the Bible how we can be sure of safely reaching heaven. “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:9,109That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Romans 10:9‑10).
Are you willing to get down on your knees and talk it over with God right now?
ML-06/19/1994