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I Like to Go Hiking

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I like to go hiking, but hiking can be a very dangerous business.
On Wednesday, April 7th, 2010, Merritt Myers went for a walk in Big Bend National Park. He told a park ranger his plans, but at the last minute changed them and decided to go for a shorter walk. He ended up losing the trail and going the wrong way. He realized his error and tried to backtrack, but decided to head toward the river instead. He dropped into a canyon thinking it would lead him to the river, but got stuck when the canyon ended in a vertical drop off into the river. He was lost.

In the year 1870, a group of people went on an expedition to the newly formed Yellowstone National Park. A man named Truman Everts went with them. On September 9th, he became separated from the rest of the group. Soon after, he lost his horse and belongings. A forest fire came through and burned his head. He had to climb a tree and sleep in it to escape a mountain lion. He only survived the freezing temperatures by warming himself next to some thermal features. For thirty-seven days, he was lost.
How do you prevent getting lost? Whether hiking, travelling, in one’s marriage, school, or in any affairs of life wherein you can become “lost,” there are five very simple rules that you can observe.

1. Stick with the plan.

  • 2 Timothy 1:13 “Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”
  • 1 Peter 4:11 “If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God….”

2. Don’t go by yourself.

  • Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
  • Hebrews 10:25 “Forsaking not the assembling together of ourselves as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching.”

3. Take plenty of water with you.

  • John 7:37 “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.”
  • Revelation 22:17 “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.”

4. Stay on the trail.

  • 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”
  • “Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee the crown of life.” Revelation 2:10.

5. Finish the hike.

  • 2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith”
  • 1 Corinthians 9:24 “Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain.”

Merritt Myers was rescued by rangers on Friday, April 9th. He was badly dehydrated and near unconsciousness. Truman Everts was rescued thirty-seven days later in October. He survived by eating snow and thistles. He was reduced to a fifty-pound shell of a man, badly burned, and with numerous broken bones. These would not have been saved had it not been for the rescuers. Our task is to do just such a work, but we must first keep ourselves saved. Remember Paul’s words to Timothy, “Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16).

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