When I first got interested in bow hunting, I grabbed every hunting magazine I could get my hands on! I would read each article that had anything to do with using archery equipment to hunt. I enjoyed reading about new tactics on scouting, deer behavior due to moon phases, unraveling the mystery of the giant whitetail buck and many more.
In one of my favorite magazines, I could always count on an article on the last page written by an amazing writer and a bow hunting legend. I found myself reading his article before any others. His articles were not always geared toward finding success as a hunter but more about the life and trials of a hunter. These were articles that talked about completing the honey do list before a hunt, how to deal with people who don’t understand why we hunt, organizing our gear, or enjoying the moments in the stand.
When I got the new issue for the start of 2016, I just couldn’t wait to see all the new products on the advertisements pages. During these cold winter days, I was looking forward to reading about successful hunts and preparing for next fall. But what I was most excited about was turning to that back page and reading the next article by this amazing writer.
I didn’t want to read this article just anywhere; you know how we hunters are! We sometimes tote these magazines to work with us to sift through the pages on lunch breaks. A hunter’s home is littered with stacks of hunting magazines on coffee tables. Special copies are displayed on a book shelf or a current issue is found next their bed on a night stand. In my house they are stored in a magazine rack in the bathroom for some easy ready when, well, you know, when you just need to have some peace and quiet for a few minutes.
No! I wanted to read this article as if I were tucked away in a far off cabin in the woods, sitting in a big comfy torn leather chair that is often found in these far off havens. I wanted to be listening to a fire crackle and pop in a large stone fireplace. My hand would be wrapped around a nice warm cup of coffee and the heat from this cup would seem to radiate through my whole body with every sip I slowly took. Before I read the article, I would take a glance out the window into the calm stillness of God’s creation. I would watch has God begins to paint the landscape in the color of white with each snowflake that falls. Yes, that would be my dream scenario in enjoying this article, but for me, today, I will have to turn on my electric fireplace, cuddle up on the couch under a nice warm quilt and allow myself, for a moment, to feel like I am there with God in that far off cabin.
In one of my favorite magazines, I could always count on an article on the last page written by an amazing writer and a bow hunting legend. I found myself reading his article before any others. His articles were not always geared toward finding success as a hunter but more about the life and trials of a hunter. These were articles that talked about completing the honey do list before a hunt, how to deal with people who don’t understand why we hunt, organizing our gear, or enjoying the moments in the stand.
When I got the new issue for the start of 2016, I just couldn’t wait to see all the new products on the advertisements pages. During these cold winter days, I was looking forward to reading about successful hunts and preparing for next fall. But what I was most excited about was turning to that back page and reading the next article by this amazing writer.
I didn’t want to read this article just anywhere; you know how we hunters are! We sometimes tote these magazines to work with us to sift through the pages on lunch breaks. A hunter’s home is littered with stacks of hunting magazines on coffee tables. Special copies are displayed on a book shelf or a current issue is found next their bed on a night stand. In my house they are stored in a magazine rack in the bathroom for some easy ready when, well, you know, when you just need to have some peace and quiet for a few minutes.
No! I wanted to read this article as if I were tucked away in a far off cabin in the woods, sitting in a big comfy torn leather chair that is often found in these far off havens. I wanted to be listening to a fire crackle and pop in a large stone fireplace. My hand would be wrapped around a nice warm cup of coffee and the heat from this cup would seem to radiate through my whole body with every sip I slowly took. Before I read the article, I would take a glance out the window into the calm stillness of God’s creation. I would watch has God begins to paint the landscape in the color of white with each snowflake that falls. Yes, that would be my dream scenario in enjoying this article, but for me, today, I will have to turn on my electric fireplace, cuddle up on the couch under a nice warm quilt and allow myself, for a moment, to feel like I am there with God in that far off cabin.
As I opened the front cover to sift through all the pictures on my way to that back page article, all these emotions began to build up in me as I began to remember this past hunting season. Seeing the full two page picture of an archer inside the cover reminded me of my archery deer. Looking at the successful hunters with their bucks on the next page took me immediately to the buck God blessed me with this year. I took a moment to bow my head and thank God for an amazing season.
I then turned the page and tears begin to well up in my eyes. I saw an article “In memory of …” this amazing legend and writer I have come to enjoy reading. This article talked about his life, all the accomplishments he was known for, and the amazing people he knew and helped in the hunting industry.
On the back page was his last published article and as I turned to read this article my heart began to break and the tears began to fall.
I then turned the page and tears begin to well up in my eyes. I saw an article “In memory of …” this amazing legend and writer I have come to enjoy reading. This article talked about his life, all the accomplishments he was known for, and the amazing people he knew and helped in the hunting industry.
On the back page was his last published article and as I turned to read this article my heart began to break and the tears began to fall.
| My emotions were not based on the fact that this would be the last time I would read this man’s article. I was not emotional because another legend has passed away and, if it were not for these legends, we may not have the sport that I love so much today. No, my heart broke because with life there are consequences for every decision we make. I knew this man didn’t know his creator. I knew this man had not accepted the fact that Jesus went to the cross and died for him. I wept because now this man, is seeing the consequence of his decision to not accept Jesus Christ. All the good he did in this world! Being a legend and entertaining lives with the gift of his writing doesn’t matter anymore. He is now suffering the turmoil and pain of an eternity in Hell. He is just another lost soul in the pit of hell that Satan was able to convince that there is no God. | I knew this man had not accepted the fact that Jesus went to the cross and died for him. |
You may be wondering how I know he didn’t except Christ? I can’t say for certain that he didn’t during his last days on Earth. I can hope that God put someone in his path that shared God’s love with him and he accepted Jesus before his last breath.
However, I do know that I read an article once in which he talked about reading an obituary about a young man who had died. He talked about how the family wrote about Heaven and how their loved one who was an outdoorsman, was catching giant bass and chasing the big rack bucks. This legend said in this article he didn’t believe in a higher power. He shared how he didn’t believe in a creator but felt that if there was an afterlife he hopes to spend it doing what he has done here on Earth.
The Bible says in Mathew chapter 10 verse 33 “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” This man denied the fact that there is a God and did so to millions of people who read this article.
However, I do know that I read an article once in which he talked about reading an obituary about a young man who had died. He talked about how the family wrote about Heaven and how their loved one who was an outdoorsman, was catching giant bass and chasing the big rack bucks. This legend said in this article he didn’t believe in a higher power. He shared how he didn’t believe in a creator but felt that if there was an afterlife he hopes to spend it doing what he has done here on Earth.
The Bible says in Mathew chapter 10 verse 33 “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” This man denied the fact that there is a God and did so to millions of people who read this article.
Mathew chapter 10 verse 33 “But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” | When this man passed away, he stood before the God above all gods. He stood in front of the one who gave him life and looked into the eyes of the one who he had heard once hung on a cross. I can imagine Jesus showing him his hands and feet that bore the holes of those nails so many years ago. I can see the tears falling down my savior’s face as He says to him, what he said when he was here on Earth in John chapter 14 verse 6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” |
My! What must have went through this man’s mind when Jesus said, “Father, I do not know him.” and he found himself in Hell. A place that is not fun as some would want you to think, but rather a place where your body is in such scrutinizing pain and no matter what you try to do you can’t be relieved. A place where the screams of deep despair of those who also didn’t accept Christ is heard all around forever and ever and ever.
| Yes, if this man did not accept Christ, his eyes were opened to the consequence of that decision! | “Father, I do not know him.” |
I remember reading this article a while ago and thinking that I needed to write to the magazine and to this man and share the Good News of Christ. I had the best of intentions to do so. But, like many Christians do, I thought, “What would people say?”, “Why should I even waste my time?”, “They probably won’t publish it or even care anyway?” So, I put it out of my mind and continued on with my life.
Several years later, I sit here on my couch, tears falling down my face, realizing the consequence of my decision to not share Jesus with his lost soul.
We, as Christians, need to open our eyes to the world around us. We need to be bold and share the love of Christ with our family, friends, and people we come in contact with every day. Today, ask yourself this question, “How much is a lost soul worth?” I don’t know about you, but there is nothing more important than sharing the love of God with a lost and broken soul in this lost and broken world.
Several years later, I sit here on my couch, tears falling down my face, realizing the consequence of my decision to not share Jesus with his lost soul.
We, as Christians, need to open our eyes to the world around us. We need to be bold and share the love of Christ with our family, friends, and people we come in contact with every day. Today, ask yourself this question, “How much is a lost soul worth?” I don’t know about you, but there is nothing more important than sharing the love of God with a lost and broken soul in this lost and broken world.
| If you’re reading this and you have not made the decision to accept what Jesus did for you on the cross, if you have refused to ask forgiveness and believe that Jesus paid it all for you on the cross, let me ask you this question, Why? | Several years later, I sit here on my couch, tears falling down my face, realizing the consequence of my decision to not share Jesus with his lost soul. |
Maybe you’re saying to yourself, “How can I believe in a God I can’t see?” I would say open your eyes! Look at the beauty of the sunrise on a winter’s day through the snow covered forest. Open your eyes and watch the fading light of a fall day as the vibrant colors of the last rays of light reflect of the beautiful fall foliage around you. Take a deep breath of life and ask yourself who breathed the first breath of life? We didn’t just appear as some believe. No. The Bible, with over 2000 prophecies that have come to fruition, has proven time and time again, says a God created the Heavens and the Earth. A God gave wisdom to prophets of old to tell about his son coming and saving a world. A God loves you so much that he watched his one and only son, take the pain of each strike of a whip that tore his flesh apart. A God that could have sent thousands of angles to the cross that day to rescue his son from the pain, but instead, allowed his son to die for you. All of this so that, one day, you would have the opportunity to accept his son as the sacrifice for your sinful life. So that when you die, you will rise, like his son, and live for eternity in Heaven with Him.
Please don’t wait until the last moment to accept Him. We are not guaranteed a long life. We are not guaranteed tomorrow and we are not guaranteed our next breath. Make the decision while you still have the opportunity and live your life with peace and hope that only the Lord Jesus Christ can provide.
Please don’t wait until the last moment to accept Him. We are not guaranteed a long life. We are not guaranteed tomorrow and we are not guaranteed our next breath. Make the decision while you still have the opportunity and live your life with peace and hope that only the Lord Jesus Christ can provide.
Peaceful Trails and Streams
First Installment
By: Adam Devine
The Devine Inspirations
www.TheDevineInspirations.com
724-376-7362
First Installment
By: Adam Devine
The Devine Inspirations
www.TheDevineInspirations.com
724-376-7362
RSS Feed