I know of only one other being whose sole purpose of
existence is to destroy: "The thief (referring to the devil) comes only to
steal and kill and destroy…"
It has been
estimated that when white man first discovered America, there were between 27
million and 100 million buffalo on the American and Canadian prairies. By 1889,
there were less than a thousand!
What happened to bring this near-disappearance of such a
huge animal?
Before Europeans arrived on this continent, Indians were
the primary natural predator of the Buffalo. They used these creatures for
food, for decoration, for clothing, for their dwellings … Every part of the
animal was used. Without the buffalo, they would not have survived; and their
sole purpose for hunting the animal was for their own survival.
White men hunted buffalo for very different reasons.
These included the following:
1. For its fur and tongue (venison).
Buffalo fur was a source of great income, and Buffalo tongue
was considered a great delicacy. After taking these two body parts, white
hunters were known to leave entire carcasses rotting on the prairie.
2. For the fun of hunting.
Men with riffles on horse-back made a sport of hunting
the buffalo.
3. To control Indians through hunger, and to force them
into reserves.
The government encouraged the large-scale killing of
these animals. They were well aware that without the buffalo, the Indians would
be forced to depend on the white man for survival. With the buffalo gone, they
would be easily herded onto the reserves.
4. During the construction of the railroad, buffalo meat
was used as a cheap way to feed foreign workers.
In other words the near extinction of this animal was
solely for money, sport and the manipulation of the indigenous populations of
Canada and the United States. Nowadays, thanks to state and provincial parks
such as Fort Whyte Centre, the buffalo population has increased merely to the
300,000 mark.
Mankind was destined for complete annihilation before
God, in His mercy, stopped the process. However, the price was costly:
"Since the children have flesh and blood, he (Jesus) too shared in their
humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of
death-that is, the devil- and free those who all their lives were held in
slavery by their fear of death." (Heb 2:14-15 NIV)
Freedom and eternal survival is yours! All you need to do
is accept God's offer of freedom. You no longer need to be slaves to sin. You
can be free from addictions! God has paid the price for you, no matter how
horrible your past might seem. Will you accept this freedom?
The Buffalo is once again grazing the prairie grasslands
in America, free of fear of hunting expeditions, safe within the protective
boundaries of hundreds of state and provincial parks and reserves. Freedom can
be yours as well. It's your choice. Don't believe what the destroyer of your
soul suggests in your mind: "You are worthless! God will never forgive you
nor free you from your past." This is a lie from the father of lies (see
John 8:44). You are so important to God that Jesus willingly died for you so
that you could have the opportunity to experience eternal freedom. It is yours
if you just believe and accept His offer. He loves you!
Dear Lord we thank You for coming to Earth so that each
of us have the choice of freedom. We pray that we would share that with those
we come into contact today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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