Yes, I've had the fortune of getting in the deer woods this year probably more often than any year prior, but I must admit that my efforts to harvest a mature buck this time around have been frustrating and ultimately bitter sweet. My buddy and I have hunted one particular spot from the first day of archery season all the way through this week, and I am sure we have been close to some big bucks, but we have nothing to show for it.
Our relentless efforts in this spot have been based on trail camera pictures we collected of a handful of mature shooter bucks during late summer, early archery, pre-rut, rut and even since the rut. To add insult to it all, we have learned of the death of three wall-worthy bucks right around this area within the past two weeks. Kickers, a 20+" whopper with all sorts of 'trash' earning him the title, was recently hit by a car 300 yards or so from where my buddy has been hunting him since the season began. The Wide 8, a 24" giant, was harvested by a hunter on an adjacent property about 400 yards from where I had him in my cross hairs on Veterans Day. And to top it off, after getting out of his tree this morning, my buddy came across a 27.5" mammoth that appeared to have been dead for several weeks or more, cause of death unknown. We did all the things we were 'supposed to do' to harvest any of these bucks - we controlled our scent, hunted the wind, hunted the moon, hunted fresh sign, hunted the does, stayed in the woods for as many hours as possible. Nevertheless, much of hunting is based on chance, and ultimately we came up short.
I can't help but think of how this hunting lesson is quite similar to how many men, even those that have been a part of our churches for many years, attempt to settle themselves spiritually with God. It is so easy to be tricked by Satan into thinking we can become right with God by doing good, doing the 'right' things - church attendance, church service, giving big sums of money, using the right lingo, cleaning up your act, and the list goes on. We must ensure that we keep the words of Jesus close to home, as he clarifies "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me" (John 14:6, NASB). Guys, just as my buddy and I came up short in killing a monster buck this season even though we 'did all the right things', be assured that you too will come up short and not reach the goal of living with Jesus for eternity if you base your spiritual health solely on what you have done for God and for others. While what we do for God is a great outward expression of the love we have for God in our hearts, it is no suitable substitute for inviting Jesus Christ to be your Savior and your Lord. If you have never settled the question of 'what are you going to do with Jesus', don't leave it up to chance, or think that the good things you have done in your life will be an acceptable alternative. Stop what you are doing right now and humble yourself before Him today. Admit you are a sinner in need of His grace, and believe that He has already done all the required work in taking your sins upon Himself on the cross, dying and rising from the grave to defeat death once and for all. As rewarding as it would be to take any of the bucks shown above, they truly pale in comparison to the reward of knowing that you have placed your trust in Jesus as your Savior and Lord and will live with Him for eternity. - GE
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