He was grinding acorns between his teeth as he grazed his way within fifteen yards of my tree stand. I strained to see a shape. It was several minutes into legal shooting hour. However, the overcast sky and heavy foliage from the grove of oaks I was situated in shut out what little day light there was.
Then, as I hoped, this unseen chewing shadowy form moved even closer. Minutes passed. First a hunk of buck’s polished rack became visible, then his outline. He moved within feet of the large limb I was perched on. I partially pulled on the string of my recurve - and then waited. I thought, "Why not reduce the risk of a miss altogether? After all, within a matter of moments it’ll be a sure thing." But then, suddenly, without warning, he turned, trotted into the tangled undergrowth, and was gone!
I hunted that buck hard for weeks after. Every time I saw the heavy long tracks he left behind I was painfully reminded of having blown it. I had waited too long. In an attempt to reduce all risk - I had actually created risk. Indeed, I still regret having passed up that shot.
Even so, according to the Bible some will pass up something far greater. Unfortunately, many will spend all of eternity reminded of the fact that they blew their biggest opportunity of all. Namely, their chance to gain eternal life. They may remember a sermon they heard, the witness of a friend, or even an entry in this devotional booklet. In any case, the Bible states that many will wait too long before they respond to the Good News of Jesus Christ. As a result they will spend eternity in the torments of hell.
On one occasion Jesus Christ was asked, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" (Luke 13:23b) He responded, "make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you , will try to enter and will not be able to . Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from’" (Luke 13:24-25). Yes, many will wait too long. Those who wait until tomorrow put themselves at great risk. For as the Bible says, "now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation" (II Corinthians 6:2b). Tomorrow may be too late!
PRAYER: Heavenly, Father, thank You that no one needs to go to hell because You paid the price for our sin on the cross. Use me to win others to You. In Your name I pray. Amen.
© 1996 Tom Rakow. All rights reserved. Taken from their “Devotions for Deer Hunters” Vol. III ©. Dr. Rakow is the President of The Christian Deer Hunters Association (CDHA) and Rock Dove Publications. He has granted permission for us to post his devotions. They publish several other Christian devotions in booklets. CDHA's address is P.O. Box 432, Silver Lake, Minnesota, 55381. Their phone number is 320-327-2266. http://www.christiandeerhunters.org is their Web address. Rock Dove’s phone number is 1-888-HIS-DOVE. Their Web address is http://www.rockdove.com. Randy Rowley will be happy to check out a Rock Dove booklet (Devotions for Dog Lovers or The Story of the Prodigal Pooch) or a CDHA newsletter or devotional booklet ("Devotions for Deer Hunters" Volumes II, III, or IV) to FCS members only.