The Hunter's Got A Gun by Daphne Delay

THE HUNTER'S GOT A GUN   

When I was a child, I had many favorite movies.  One that stands out above the rest is the Disney classic, The Fox and the Hound.  I loved the animation and the story of Tod and Copper as young childhood friends who discovered they were supposed to be enemies.  Since becoming an adult, and especially a Christian, certain scenes from this movie have resurfaced in my memory bank as illustrations of real-life truths.

One scene in particular is when "Big Mama" (an old owl) warns Tod (the fox) of becoming friends with the hunter's puppy.  The fox had already had one encounter with the hunter, yet risked going back to the hunter's house to find Copper (the puppy) and more so-called "innocent" fun.  This second trip turned out to be a big mistake!  Big Mama scolded Tod and said, "Didn't you learn anything?  It's either education or elimination!  If you're so foxy and that hound's so dumb, then why does that hound get the fox on the run?  'Cause he's got the hunter and the hunter's got the gun... KABAM!  Elimination!  Lack of education!"  I can still hear Pearl Bailey's voice when I think about these words!

But you know, I also hear the Word of God.  Paul told the Corinthians, "lest Satan should take advantage of us, ...we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Corinthians 2:11).  Ignorance is not the state of being stupid.  It is a lack of knowledge, or in this case, a lack of education.  Just like Big Mama was trying to explain to the fox that the hunter and his dog were not his friends, Paul was trying to tell us that sin may be fun for a season, but Satan is the hunter and the hunter's got a gun, so don't be ignorant!  It would explain why God said in Hosea 4:6, "My people perish (are destroyed) for a lack of knowledge."  Why do God's people perish?  Because they are ignorant (they have a lack of knowledge) of Satan's devices.  The world makes sin look fun and appealing.  But that puppy grows into a big dog and that big dog is trained to bite and kill!

Later, in another chapter, Paul said, "I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3).  Paul was not saying he was in fear, as in being afraid of Satan.  He was stating that he was fearful, as in being alarmed, at their behavior which indicated some ignorance on their part.  He continues in verse four by saying, "For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted -- you may well put up with it!"  In other words, you and I received the grace of God in truth, but if we don't get some education concerning the deception of Satan and his devices, we'll find ourselves prancing right over to the hunter's house.  Only this time, the hunter is waiting with a gun.  Whereas "it didn't hurt us" last time, the deceptive innocence will suddenly be removed and we may just find ourselves looking down the nose of a barrel with nowhere to run.

The Bible says that "...Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light" (2 Corinthians 11:14).  Is he an angel of light?  No, he is only pretending in order to deceive God's people.  Most Christians won't frequent a porn club or a bar or any such obvious sinful place.  But more and more the lines between right and wrong have faded in the church and Christians are allowing things before their eyes and in their hearts that start out looking innocent but soon open themselves up into full-fledge destruction.  Why?  Because "it's either education or elimination!"  If you and I don't know Satan's devices, we will be taken advantage of.  And because of our ignorance, our lack of knowledge, we will be destroyed.  So as Big Mama said, "Didn't you learn anything?"

Tod the fox, had to grow up and let go of childish things, just as we do.  Spiritual maturity, and therefore divine protection, is not judged by the number of years you have been saved, but by your application of the Word of God.  God's Word and our adherence to it is a protector from the hunter whose only desire is "...to kill, steal, and destroy" (John 10:10).  But God's desire for us is "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ" (Ephesians 4:14-15).  Therefore, remember that we are sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves and and should always be wiser than the hunter (I mean, as wise as serpents) and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16).