When people, nearly 100 years ago, worried about the disappearance of bison from America they persuaded the governments of Canada and the United States to set up protective areas, such as Yellowstone National Park and Custer State Park, throughout the West. Others thought it would be profitable to raise them like cattle and take care of them in protected areas.
These good actions resulted in a gradual increase in the number of these animals so that now there are about 30,000 of them in parks and preserves like the National Bison Range in Montana where large herds now prosper.
Both bulls and cows have horns and shoulder humps. They are impressive with their 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. They don’t look too attractive during this period.
Calves, weighing about 30 pounds, are born in early summer and can stand up and nurse in half an hour. When they are about six weeks old they change their diet from milk to grass, which becomes their entire food supply along with leaves from certain trees for the rest of their lives. They do most of their grazing in the morning with the afternoon being a time of resting and rolling in the dust to get rid of insects.
When angry, bulls charge one another, coming together slowly with heads down, feet pawing the ground, and tails up in the air, while 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 people on earth 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 to accept Him as your own Saviour stands open. 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-11/30/1986