When people worried about the disappearance of bison from North America nearly one hundred years ago, they persuaded the governments of Canada and the United States to set up protective areas throughout the West, such as Yellowstone National Park and Custer State Park. Others suggested it would be profitable to raise them like cattle in protected areas.
These agreements resulted in a gradual increase in the number of these animals. Now there are more than thirty thousand of them in parks and fenced game preserves, like the National Bison Range in Montana, where large herds prosper.
Both bulls and cows have horns and humped shoulders. They are impressive with their large, shaggy, bearded heads and sharp, curved horns. When herds are threatened in any way, the males huddle together to form a ring around cows and calves, providing good defense. God, their Creator, gave them this instinct. In winter, thick, heavy hair grows over the back part of their bodies. This drops off in springtime, sometimes hanging in loose patches until the animal rubs it off against a tree or big rock.
Calves, weighing about thirty pounds, are born in early summer and can stand up and nurse in half an hour. At about six weeks old, they begin to change their diet from milk to grass. This, along with other small plants and twigs from certain trees and shrubs, becomes their entire food supply for the rest of their lives. They do most of their grazing in the morning; afternoons are spent resting and rolling in the dust to get rid of insects.
When angry, bulls charge one another, approaching slowly with heads down, feet pawing the ground, tails raised and blowing volumes of air from their nostrils and raising clouds of dust - making a very scary sight. Suddenly they slam their heads together, pushing each other back and forth until one finally gives up. When the fight is over, they walk peacefully away.
The Bible tells us God cares for the beasts of the field. But He cares much more for all people who, when He created them, were made in His likeness and for whom He has always shown His love. The greatest proof of His love was at the cross of Calvary where “He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)).
Until the Saviour comes to call those who love Him into heaven, His invitation to you stands open to accept Him as your own Saviour. However, once believers are called up to heaven, it will be too late for any who are left behind to accept His invitation. Will you be called up to heaven? or will you be left behind to face the punishment for your sins?
ML-03/30/2003