Whitetail deer are magnificent animals! Anyone who has ever hunted them is amazed at their abilities on a regular basis. They have good eyesight, great hearing, and almost a sixth sense when it comes to identifying an intruder.
Their greatest protection is their sense of smell. Wildlife biologist say they have the ability to decipher hundreds of smells simultaneously, in order to determine their approach.
On a farm I hunt, their is an old buck that Isaiah and I have named Luther (more on that another day). We first took notice of Luther last year on the opening day of youth season. We had several close encounters, but we were never able to harvest the big fella.
This year, my first encounter with Luther came this morning. It was a quiet, cold morning. We are in the middle of the rut, a time when old bucks tend to let their guard down a little bit. As I was sitting in my stand, suddenly from the draw below me a doe appeared. It took little time to see she was being followed by two more deer – one a small buck, we are calling Floppy because of a broken ear, and Luther.
They crept through the bottom and up to my ridge…the only problem was they were all downwind. It was clear from their body language that this doe had no interest in the two men following her. Quietly and slowly I reached for my doe bleat and grunt call. When I was confident they would hear me, I hit the doe bleat and followed with a croaker (breeding) grunt, followed by a series of tending grunts.
Luther was not happy…he didn’t like the idea of another buck messing around with his ladies. He proceeded to make a scrape and destroy a cedar tree with his antlers. He turned directly toward me and began to march…everything seemed perfect!
Meanwhile, the smaller buck with Luther, he was not going to be patient. He trotted directly underneath me, searching everywhere for the source of the noises I had just made.
However, Luther, he came to about 60 yards and stopped. With his eyes, he searched the timber…looking everywhere for the intruder. When he could not spot his rival, he began to lick his nose and stick it in the air. As a hunter, I’ve unfortunately seen this behavior too many times! I knew immediately I was not going to be harvesting Luther.
Over the next 30 minutes, I watched Luther stand as a statue. The good news is that I, apparently, had done a good job of ridding myself of all human order. The bad news…I could not replicate the smell of another buck. Luther was trying to smell his rival…and until he did, he wasn’t coming any closer.
Trying to fool him one more time…I reached for my snort wheeze tube and rattling horns. Leaning behind the tree, so he would not catch my movement, I hit my snort wheeze, followed by a short rattling sequence. Luther was locked in…making another scrape, he snort wheezed back and then stared in silence. With my binoculars, I could see him licking his nose again…trying to find any scent of the bucks he was hearing.
Another 20 minutes of watching him stand absolutely still…Luther finally put his head down and turned around, walking off and out of my life.
Meanwhile, Floppy just kept coming back for the hour or so that the encounter took place.
I was disappointed…but it got me thinking about my Christian walk. God has given us a “sixth sense,” so to speak…He’s given us the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is given to us as a guide, helper, to teach, and to lead us in holiness (John 14). It’s not a perfect illustration, but the Holy Spirit serves as our “sixth sense,” to tell us when danger is present.
Like Luther, we have a natural drive…a natural desire of pursuit. Sometimes that drive leads us to death…leads us to devastation…leads us to moral failures. Sin does not seek to give us life, but seeks to destroy our life.
And when we hear it call out, our natural drive is sparked to curiosity…sometimes we even begin the approach, not realizing how close to danger we really are. But our sixth sense is supposed to be engaged, we are supposed to look for the source of the allure.
Here’s what caught my attention the most…Floppy bought my calls hook line and sinker, but Luther, while being intrigued, refused to commit to the path in front of him. What was the difference? – Maturity.
In our Christian walk, what does maturity look like? Some would suggest it is about a higher attendance percentage at church or Sunday school, more service, or leadership in the local church.
Galatians 6:1, “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch over yourselves, lest you too be tempted.”
Paul told the spiritual brothers, the mature members, in the Galatian church to help their immature brothers and sisters to be watchful of the dangers present. But he also commended them to be vigilant, on guard, because they were not above the same temptations.
In 2 Timothy 2:22, the apostle said, “So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness…”
In our illustration, Luther is heeding the apostle’s directives…he is mature enough to not run to the allure, the youthful passions. Instead, he is deliberate, discerning, engaging his “sixth sense,” and protecting himself.
This weekend, gun season begins. The neighbors of the farm I hunt, they are not as picky as I am. If one of them grunts, Floppy will come running…and Floppy will be no more. His youthful/immature passions will cost him his life.
Brothers and sisters, the consequences to our inability to flee youthful/immature passions and to use the Holy Spirit to discern the source of our choice, are no less dramatic. The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy.
Stop and smell…make sure you have discerned the source of the call you are hearing or you’ll be hanging on the enemy’s wall.
Held by Grace, PC