DO NOT FEED THE BEARS

There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man: But God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way
to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Corinthians 10:13

Black bears are a real fascination for folks who come to our mountains. People swarm to our nearby cove to just have the joy of spotting a bear or two. We are near enough to the park to even have bears occasionally visit in our town. If a neighbor spots one, he is quick to alert other neighbors. Black bears are not like stuffed animals one can purchase in a visitor's center. They are very much alive, very fast runners, defensive of their young, unpredictable and usually very hungry.

Black bears really are beautiful signs to behold. The smaller ones are fun to watch as they follow close behind their mommas. As fascinating as it all is, there are signs that warn people to stay at a good distance from any bear they see in a nearby field. My shock is to see the carelessness shown toward these seemingly friendly animals by well meaning visitors. We have seen people do really stupid things. We saw a father with a two year old little boy, edge up to a bear to the point of being just about 10 yards or less from the bear. He just wanted his son to get a good look. There is no way that dad could have outrun that bear if the bear had turned on him and his son.

People are cautioned about feeding the bears. Human food can turn that animal's system into something that is unnatural. If used to human food, bears will seek out human food and such a venture can mean real danger for a well-meaning tourist. Bears can see or sense food left in a car while a family goes for a hike. Bears have been known to open car doors to gain access to delicacies left behind in it. Bears just being bears can end up being euthanized because of the careless behavior of human beings.

Sin can at times look as innocent as a cuddly little black bear. The sin may seem innocent enough and harmless at best. The problem with little bears is that they quickly grow to be bigger ones, bears that can show their fierceness at times with little provocation. A live bear always has to eat to keep alive and satisfied. Such is the same with sin.

There are so many seemingly innocent things that can take hold of our lives and I'm speaking of we Christians. Somehow because we are God's children, we feel we are immune to the horrible effects of little innocent temptations that can eventually have destructive effects in our lives. Moderation can go out the window when presented with any sin.

One of the attributes of sin, like our bears, is that it demands to be fed. It will plead, beg and nag to be fed. It is relentless. This is why temptation is such a dangerous thing. Many Christians feel they are immune to temptation. Satan loves when we feel like that. What tempts you might not tempt me. Satan has us and our weaknesses all figured out and knows just the right thing to dangle in front of us.

I think the older we become, the more immune we feel we are from most worldly things and that may be true. However, we may have our own set of sins that God still hates. Where some younger person may get hung up on alcohol, an older person may get great delight in gossip and spreading as much negative information as possible. We can have issues of anger and resentment that may seem harmless when just the opposite is true.

I know the “bears” in my life that demand my attention, time and response. Let the real black bears feed on all the berries and nuts they can find. Our answer is to be folks who feed regularly on the Word of God. When faced with the roar of temptations, flee it as quickly as one should get away from any black bear found in a park. Both can be terribly damaging.

Father, thank You for Jesus who died for our sin and to give us life eternal. Keep us alert as to Satan's tactics. May we act against such with Holy Spirit power to resist him while clinging to Your precious word. In Jesus name...Amen