The Hunter (published 26 April 2008 in the RECORD)

(To see this article in the RECORD please go to http://record.adventistconnect.org/ and click on the April 26 issue.)
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The hunter crouches, muscles tense, watching and waiting, waiting and watching. It is silent, except for the rush of blood pumping through veins and his shallow, rapid breathing. He runs the net through his fingers one more time, rough fibres chafing at his skin. It shouldn’t be long now.

There it is! In a single movement he launches himself from his hiding place and throws the net with such accuracy, such skill, that it is obvious he is an expert. He captures his prey quickly and subdues it. He hands it over to be destroyed. The hunter is victorious once more.

This is not the hunter’s first attempt. At first he was clumsy, unco-ordinated and plain unsuccessful. He has spent many hours honing his craft, practicing in controlled situations – all to prepare him for this moment. He has invested the time, the energy and the commitment to his cause to become a skilful hunter. It was a slow process, but with each catch it became increasingly natural, increasingly automatic – as though the very nerves in his body knew how to respond and when. Now, he could complete a capture with a minimum of fuss and expend a minimum of energy. He is truly the master of the hunt.

So what exactly, is in his net? What wild beast, savage and ferocious lies tangled within the knots and folds? Is it a jaguar, or a tiger, or some kind of fearsome reptile? No, it is indeed something far more sinister, more dangerous, more unexpected. It is something that lives on every continent in the world; it can be found on desert plains and mountain ridges, in the deepest valleys and rockiest outcrops; it is present in every race, every culture, every creed. In fact, it dwells within each member of the human race.

What lies at the bottom of the hunter’s net? His thoughts. The ideas, the inspirations, the concepts, the criticisms; the flashes of words that flicker through his brain at lightning speed. These are what he has worked so hard to subdue. These are the prey he has hunted and conquered. He has read the words of Paul and he has taken them seriously: “We capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5 (NCV)

It wasn’t easy at first. Initially, he wasn’t even aware of many of the thoughts that trespassed his mind. They were so automatic, so momentary that it was hard to focus on them, let alone capture them. His first job was to listen - listen to the soundtrack of his life, the running commentary of ceaseless “brain chatter” that dwelled within his mind. Listening was harder than he thought. It took time, it took effort, it took commitment. But eventually, he could hear the inner workings of his thought processes more clearly. At times he was horrified by what he heard; other times he was confused, bewildered by the logic or lack thereof of his own thoughts. But still he listened.

Once his listening skills were honed and his senses alert to the thoughts that narrated his life, the hunter was then able to begin the process of thought catching. Using the Bible as his guide, he assessed each and every thought against what he knew to be true, right, honest, pure and good. The standard was high, the effort required monumental. Those thoughts that were acceptable, pleasing and obedient were allowed to continue and to grow. He nurtured those thoughts he knew would be pleasing to his Lord. Those thoughts that were contrary and disobedient were the ones he sought to capture.

Once captured, the hunter’s thoughts were made to give up and obey Christ. How? By being reworded, revised or replaced by Christ-like thoughts. It took effort, it took time, it took commitment, it took prayer. At times he won the battle and captured a net full of useless, negative, destructive thoughts. Other times his humanity prevailed and one got away. But he didn’t give up.

Today, he was once again successful. Crouched behind the foliage of his mind, a thought had been festering. It was a critical, hurtful thought that would only bring pain and destruction. It would bring no glory to God. With ease that only comes with practice, he had waited for the right moment and had cast his net. He had captured his dangerous prey and handed it over to his Master to be destroyed. His job complete, the hunter brushed himself down and continued on his way.

Imagine if each one of us took Paul’s advice seriously. How would it transform our relationships, our families, our churches if we took captive every thought and made it obedient to Christ? It takes time, it takes effort, it takes commitment. It’s something worth thinking about. After all, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7 (KJV).