God's Grace through Hunting

If you know me personally then you know that I am enthralled, in awe and amazed at the Biblical revelation of grace. I’ve made it my lifelong mission to think upon, study, experience, communicate, live and enjoy every facet of this diamond. So as I always find myself thinking about this I recalled that a few years ago during my youth ministry days I received a call from a good friend and fellow believer who happened to be a professional hunting guide. At the time I had been somewhat out of touch with him, but even during the time we attended the same church I cannot say that we were particularly close. We were just well acquainted with each other as fellow brothers in the Lord. He called and asked if I’d like to go on a free hunt. Who turns down a free hunting trip? So after speaking at youth service that Wednesday night I took my packed bags, rifle and drove up to Lampasas County where my friend took me to a beautiful first class hunting lodge. I’ll never forget it.

So one night my friend, the landowner and myself were sitting outside after a day’s hunt and I must tell you I really felt out of place in the midst of these two white men whom I had nothing in common with neither race, similar upbringing, age, vocation or anything else I could think of. We only had Jesus in common. He’d brought us together. What a funny sight now that I think about it more. I was the customer and they were at this Mexican’s service as if I had actually paid the $2,500 for the hunt. The hunt was free to me, but not free to the landowner or my friend who made his living from booking and guiding these hunts. So why was I there under such circumstances? You see, my friend had previously asked the landowner if he’d reward him a free hunt if he booked a certain number of hunts at his place so as to guarantee profit. I believe the landowner agreed, but not too eagerly since each hunting package was priced between $2,500-$3,500. The landowner agreed nonetheless. So then my friend entered that hunting season expecting to personally hunt free of charge alongside his teenage son, but then he said that late into the season he believed God lead him to give up his hunting package and give it to me as a gift and not incur any additional costs on my end. He even offered free taxidermy services should I harvest a trophy. Like I said, who would turn that down? I was graced, but it was costly. It was free to me, but not free to them. They absorbed the cost. The trip for me was especially timely because I was on the verge of burnout. I needed a sabbatical so to speak. My friend never said, “Chris, I am going to take you on this trip because I feel you deserve it” or anything else like that. He simply said, “The Lord has put it on my heart to give you this hunting trip with no strings attached.” He knew nothing of my desire to get away and enjoy a few days off. God knew my need and he went above and beyond simply granting me a few days off. He booked a hunt that I'd only dreamed of, but never in my life would I have thought I'd ever go on such a hunt. I had been hunting before, but never with a professional hunting guide, free lodging and free meals. I was even given a free pair of Nikon binoculars (valued at $350).

This is similar to the gospel of Jesus Christ. God’s offer of salvation is free only because Jesus paid for it. It wasn’t free for God. Jesus absorbed the wrath of God on our behalf even though we were unworthy. It was costly for him, but free for us. Grace.