August 28, 2013 (Wednesday)
When we go fishing, we use bait. We always choose bait that we think attract fish. We usually don’t use foods that we enjoy eating. We use whatever we think the fish like to eat. Makes sense.
That’s why natural gas pipelines, treated with the chemical mercaptan attract Turkey Vultures when they spring a leak. The odor of the chemical resembles carrion. Turkey Vultures have a very good sense of smell. Picture a vulture minding his own business, sailing through the air, when all of a sudden he yells to his partner in flight, “Hey, what’s that smell?” His partner replies, “Smells good, like something to eat.” Soon all their friends have joined the party, circling together over that good smell. The circling vultures signal to the maintenance crews that there may be a break in the line.
Sound weird? Probably because you don’t like the smell of carrion. You are not equipped to enjoy the smell. But the vulture loves it. I have often wondered what makes the difference in one creature’s love of an aroma, when to another type of creature the odor rises to level of “stink.”
Now imagine an action and process so powerful that it can change a person’s “likes” to “dislikes” and vice versa. Fantasy, you say? No, not at all. It’s happening every day as people come to Christ in faith and surrender to his control. “At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Corinthians 5:16b-17 NLT).