Cougars once roamed freely over most of North America. Where they live now is limited to a few isolated wilderness areas and large national parks. If you go hiking in a national park, the chances are slim that you would ever see a cougar. However, the common sense thing to do is to have a plan ready if you should see one.
Gary Huff knew the steps to take. At almost every trailhead in the Olympic National Park they have a bulletin board with trail information posted. Stapled on these boards is a drawing of a cougar, and underneath are listed the steps to take if a hiker should see one of these dangerous cats.
The first rule says, “Never hike alone.” This is a rule that Gary didn’t follow. If he had, he could have avoided some very scary moments. On this day, he wanted to hike to the top of Mount Baldy, a rugged climb, and he couldn’t find anyone to go with him.
You and I should never go alone anywhere in this world. We all need the “friend that [sticks] closer than a brother” (Proverbs 18:2424A man that hath friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24)). Friends are wonderful to have, but there is One whose loyalty and faithfulness is far greater than anyone else—the Lord Jesus Christ. When we truly believe on Him, we belong to Him, and He promises to be with us forever: “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:55Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)). It means, as believers, none of us will ever have to be alone again.
The second rule when you see a cougar is, “Don’t panic and run.” Cougars are very good at sizing up their prey. Their instincts tell them that animals (people included) in a state of panic turn and run and are easier to bring down from behind. Gary knew this rule, and it probably saved his life.
He was on his way down Mount Baldy. Suddenly, a few feet in front of him and behind a tree stump, he saw the twitch of a long, tawny brown tail. He stopped at once and knew instantly a cougar was hiding behind the stump! Gary knew some of the habits of cougars, that they liked to attack their prey by hiding and attacking by surprise. He sensed at once the cougar was waiting for him to pass the stump so it could leap on him from behind. Cougars are very strong and have been known to take down animals as big as a moose, attacking this way. Gary’s immediate thought was to turn and run, but he fought off this thought. He didn’t want to give the cat the chance to leap on him from behind.
We all have an enemy that is even stronger and smarter than a mountain lion (or cougar). The Bible says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:88Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: (1 Peter 5:8)). If you are not a believer in the Lord Jesus, this enemy, whose name is Satan, will do all he can to keep you away from the Saviour. He hates God and all that God loves. He will do all he can to keep you from coming to the Lord Jesus for salvation, because he wants to see your soul lost in hell where he will also be sent. If you have not yet come to the Lord Jesus for salvation, you need to call to Him at once. “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:2121And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21)). The Lord Jesus loves you very much. If you come to Him, truthfully telling Him you are a sinner and want to be cleansed from your sins, He will forgive your sins and make you one of His children forever. If you ignore your sinful condition, you are in great danger, greater than what Gary was facing.
Gary understood his danger. He stood still, muscles tense, sweat pouring down his back and face and his heart pounding. He expected an attack at any moment. The cougar came out of his hiding place and stopped on the trail in front of him. They stood staring at each other, no more than five feet apart. Gary looked right into the eyes of the cat, then he took a quick glance to the ground by his feet, looking for a stone he could throw to startle the cat. He didn’t find one and decided that his aluminum hiking poles would work better than throwing a stone. He remembered the third rule: “Make yourself as big and fearful as possible to discourage an attack.” Slowly Gary raised his hiking poles and held them out in front of him, as he slowly began to back away. For what seemed like forever, Gary slowly backed his way up the trail.
Several times, the cougar came rushing towards him as if to attack, but the cat always stopped short. Then, unexpectedly, the big cat bounded off and disappeared into the woods. Relieved and exhausted from the encounter, Gary rested for a while before heading back down the trail. Thankfully, he came out of his standoff with the dangerous cougar without a scratch.
Do you understand the danger you face if you have not believed in the Lord Jesus and settled the matter of your sins with Him? He offers you a complete victory over Satan today!
ML-07/05/2015