One pesky bear in our area has made the
news lately. Here are some of the headlines:
•CAMPSITES CLOSED AFTER BEAR SNIFFS OUT MEALS
•BERRY-LESS BEAR IS FORAGING FOR FOOD
•BEAR STEALS HIKER'S FOOD, CAUSES CLOSURE OF TRAIL
•CAMPERS IGNORING WARNINGS ABOUT HAZARDOUS "DEVIL BEAR"
•TROUBLESOME PARK BEAR IS FACING DEATH SENTENCE
•BLACK BEAR GETS DEATH SENTENCE
How would you like to be out hiking or camping and meet a bear that had developed a taste for the same food you like to eat? "No way! That would be too dangerous!" you say, and you would be right. Bears have a keen sense of smell, and that bear might smell something good to eat in your pocket or backpack, and he might be very interested in finding it!
Park rangers in the Olympic National Park had become so worried about this bear that they had to take special precautions. After the bear had stolen food from several campsites, the rangers installed "bear wires." These are wires that dangle between trees so campers can hang their food up high where bears can't reach it. However, this pesky bear was too smart for its own good. It climbed the trees and learned to shake the cross wires until the food would come tumbling down.
Park rangers were in a fix. They didn't know what to do about this bear, so they closed down this popular park. But then would-be visitors complained. Many had looked forward to camping in the park and wanted it reopened.
The rangers came up with another idea. They shot the bear with a tranquilizer gun to put it to sleep. While the bear was sleeping, they fastened a yellow radio collar around its neck. This collar would send out radio signals that would tell the rangers exactly where the bear was located.
Again, the bear was too smart for its own good. A few days later they found the yellow collar hanging from a tree branch where the bear had rubbed it off.
Now the rangers had a bigger problem. If they allowed the bear to roam the park, it would continue to raid campsites, and sooner or later a camper was going to get hurt. Their only choice left was to kill the bear. From then on, they carried loaded shotguns.
The bear had gotten into serious trouble raiding campsites, and it was sentenced to die. Each one of us has gotten into serious sin trouble, and the sentence for our sins also is death. The Bible warns: "The wages of sin is death" (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)); "the soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:44Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4)). The Bible explains in other verses that this death means being shut out forever from God's presence in a place called hell. This is an end that none of us wants! But until you and I get a sense of the danger we face for our sins, we won't see our need of the Savior.
There was finally good news about the park bear that saved its life. For some reason, it headed towards the mountains and hasn't been seen since.
We have good news for boys and girls, and grown-ups too. In the very same Bible verse that tells us "the wages of sin is death," it also says, "But the gift of God is eternal life." You see, God loves you and me so much that He made a way to save us from our sins. He sent His Son Jesus into this world. The Lord Jesus went to Calvary's cross where He died and shed His precious blood. His blood can wash away the sins of all who will accept Him as their Savior. "Verily, 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 5:2424Verily, 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)).
Now that's good news! Will you believe it and have your sentence of eternal death removed?