Eyesalve: Learning From A Trophy Hunter

Much of my life is about serving the body of Christ but one thing I still enjoy doing is to get out in the north woods of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan to do some deer hunting. Just sitting there in a tree stand for many hours gives me a lot of time to think. I have thought many times of the many similarities between a trophy deer hunter and a serious Christian so I want to share them with you. I preached this to my church this last Sunday so I will be taking these points from my sermon. I have an eight pointer, I mean eight points to share with you. I am always watching for the big buck to come along but I am not really a trophy hunter. I do have a few wall mounts but I really can’t afford to give what precious time there is left before the Lord comes to spending it chasing after something that will just burn someday. I thank the Lord for the few times I do get away, it is nice to get a little change of pace in my life and it is wonderful to be out in God’s great outdoors. Anyway. even though I am not a true trophy hunter I do know what it takes to be one so here is my first point.

1. The Trophy Buck
“And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.” II Chron. 15:15

The trophy hunter is after a trophy buck. A trophy buck is exceptional in that it has a very large and heavy rack. The average hunter will never shoot one much less even see one, but I heard an expert bow hunter say once that there is a big boy in every neighborhood. The trophy hunter will not settle for any old buck. He will let let many bucks walk past his stand just waiting for that one that could make the record book. He is not like the majority of hunters who are just glad to shoot any deer.

The application
Like the trophy hunter we must not settle for mediocre complacent Christianity. No fence walking for the serious God loving Christian. I think it is pretty safe to say, though sad, that the trophy deer hunter is more serious about his hunting than most Christians are serious about serving God. The hunter may love his hunting more than the Christian loves His Lord. Everyone that reads this please prove me wrong. I want to be so wrong. The text in II Chronicles says that Judah sought the Lord with their “whole desire.” That means that everything they could muster, everything that was in them was focused on seeking the Lord. Saints, He wants all of us. We can’t just give him a little, not even 90 percent. Seek Him with your WHOLE DESIRE. As the trophy hunter has one pursuit let Christ be your pursuit.

Pastor Fischer

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