Artists often draw pictures of raccoons with masks on their faces. In animal stories they are usually the villain or thief. In real life they are very, very clever animals, but often they are also a nuisance and can be very destructive. This is the reason why they are described as the thief in stories.
Mr. Linden had been bothered by a raccoon that had become a real problem. It was killing his chickens, one at a time, until he had lost 20 in all. The killing came to a climax when his neighbor lost some ducks and 30 chickens all in one night. The coon was now killing just for the sake of killing.
Soon after, Mr. Linden’s dog alerted him that something was wrong outside. He went out to see what was going on. There in the shed was a large, fat raccoon eating the bag of dog food. It just turned its head sideways, looked at Mr. Linden, and went back to eating the dog food. Mr. Linden made a threatening move toward the coon, so it decided to move along elsewhere, where it wouldn’t be bothered. Mr. Linden’s dog, a large Doberman, was let out to guard things after that.
Not long after, a fight took place outside which brought Mr. Linden out with a flashlight in one hand and a gun in the other. The bold raccoon was cornered in the shed, but stood its ground against the dog. The corner of the dog’s mouth was bleeding, so Mr. Linden now had no choice. He held the flashlight with one hand while he fired the gun with the other. The coon fell dead.
When I visited Mr. Linden there was the coonskin stretched out on a board to dry. The killing and destruction of ducks and chickens had stopped. It made me think of how sin and Satan go on and on in this world. There is so much heartache, unhappiness, confusion, killing and destruction because of it. “Evil men and seducers... wax [grow] worse and worse.” 2 Timothy 3:1313But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. (2 Timothy 3:13). Wicked men, when not punished and subdued, become bolder and bolder, just like the raccoon in our story.
Yes, because of sin, God must act in judgment. He must step in and bring it to a stop. God must punish sin, but He loves the sinner and wants to forgive him. God loves you. He gave His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to save you. Jesus died, bearing God’s punishment and shed His blood on Calvary’s cross to wash away your sins, if you will accept Him. He gives a new life and a new nature to all who accept Him.
The raccoon could not receive a new nature, so it had to be destroyed. Those who will not accept the Lord Jesus as their Saviour will have to be punished for their sins. “He that rejecteth Me,” said the Lord Jesus, “and receiveth not My words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:4848He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:48). “He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into [judgment]; but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24). Have you believed on the Lord Jesus? Oh, how He wants to save you and bless you! Won’t you trust Him now?
ML-06/07/1987