Ben Kilham didn’t learn like other children in school. He couldn’t read well when it came to the written word but this was by no means a measure of his intelligence, because when it came to animals in the wild, Ben could certainly read their signals. In fact, this naturalist from New England, USA is best known for his incredible work with orphaned black bears. Ben has raised and released more than 160 black bears into the wild after building trust and modeling to them ‘how to be a bear.’ He has been so successful in his endeavors that a delegation was sent from China to observe his methods in the hopes of taking the same program back to China to apply to the Giant Panda in the hopes of saving a dying species.
The bears thrive and survive because of the bonding and love shown to them by Ben Kilham. He shows them how to live. The program with the Pandas was not as successful but shows promising results. It is completely based on bonding and modeling, and then releasing the Pandas into the wild after showing them ‘how to be a panda.’
God has done this for us. He looked down on His creation and realized that we really got ourselves into a mess. Yes, we have the manual, the Bible to lead and guide us, but a quick read of Old Testament history and it is clear that we needed more. We needed to have the living example of Jesus Christ. And so, because God loves us and wants what is best for us, He became a man to show and teach us how to live. And His motivation? Love. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16) Easter was just this past weekend and of course we celebrated that Jesus’ death on the cross did not end there but culminated in His resurrection Sunday morning. He came not just to be a model for us but also our Saviour. He paid the cost for our sins. He didn’t wait for us to have it all perfect. “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) We cannot do what Jesus came to do, but we can strive to follow His example of love and concern for the lost around us. We are to follow His example as a servant leader and do what He modeled for us. This will culminate in living the abundant life that honours God and takes the life-giving message to others. We are released into the wild called life where we are to model what we have learned in order to more than just survive.
“A new command I give unto you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (John 13:34,35)
There is no doubt each and every species is important. We work hard as human beings to ensure that there will no longer be endangered species that go extinct. But humankind is different than the rest. Animals were created, but the breath of life was breathed by God into the very first human beings. In addition, we are called very good and told that we are His special creation. Why? Because you and I were created in the very image of God!
Nature all around us: We try to save the planet, be mindful of the species that are dwindling too quickly to survive and to monitor global warming and greenhouse gases. But do we focus on what is truly important to the heart of God? Because frankly, YOU are the crown of His creation and it is your heart He wants before all else. (Genesis 1:27-31; 2:7) Ben Kilham has sacrificed his time to help these orphaned black bears that he loves so much. Jesus Christ has sacrificed Himself to provide a way for you and me back to God, the Father. A holy God who loves us so much that He humbled Himself as a man and came to the Earth to show us the way.
Our song for today is Perfectly Loved by Rachael Lampa and TobyMac.