Hunter's Got a Gun

By Daphne Delay

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 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 the owl, "Big Mama," warns Tod (the young fox) of becoming friends with the hunter's puppy. The fox had dangerously encountered the hunter once, but despite the warnings, took the risk a second time in order to play with Copper. His second trip however, 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.)

But I also hear God's Word. Paul told the Corinthians, "Lest Satan should take advantage of us, ...we are not ignorant of his devices" (2 Corinthians 2:11). Ignorance isn't stupidity; it is a lack of knowledge, or in this case, a lack of education. Just as Big Mama tired to explain to the fox that the hunter and his dog were not his friends, Paul is telling us sin may be fun for a season, but Satan is the hunter and the hunter's got a gun, so don't be ignorant!

God said in Hosea 4:6, "My people perish (and are destroyed) for a lack of knowledge." Why do God's people perish? Because they are ignorant (having 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 dog is trained to bite and kill!

Later, 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 alarmed at their behavior. "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" (verse 4).

In other words, if we don't get educated 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, we may just find ourselves looking down the nose of a barrel with nowhere to run.

The Bible says, "...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. 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 them up to 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, we will be destroyed. So as Big Mama said, "Didn't you learn anything?"

Tod had to grow up and let go of childish things, just as we do. Spiritual maturity is not based on the number of years you've been saved, but by your application of God's Word. Our adherence to God's instruction is a protector from the hunter, whose only desire is "...to kill, steal, and destroy" (John 10:10).

So remember, we are sent out as sheep in the midst of wolves and should always be wiser than the hunter—I mean, as wise as serpents (Matthew 10:16).