Don’t Let A Moose Lick Your Car

We’ve all seen flashing road signs warning us of lane closures, slow traffic ahead, or road construction. However, this is one I’ve never seen.

Canadian officials in Jasper, Alberta, Canada, have put up signs warning people “Do not let moose lick your car.”

Really?

“They’re obsessed with salt, it’s one of the things they need for the minerals in their body,” Jasper National Park spokesman, Steve Young, told CNN. “They usually get it from salt licks in the park, but now they realized they can also get road salt that splashes onto cars.”

Apparently, people often park on the side of the road at Jasper National Park hoping to see a moose. When the moose get too close, they may try to lick the salt off your car. Young says this poses a risk to both the animals who become accustomed to automobiles and drivers who may accidentally crash into them.

“Moose and cars are not a good mix,” Young said. “If you hit the moose with your car, you take the legs out from under it and it’s going through your windshield.”

“The best way to stop a moose from coming close to your car is simply driving away when you see them approaching,” he added.

Adam Faughn suggested in a blog post that this story is a good illustration of the dangers of temptation that lead to sin. The Bible offers this warning.

“Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death” (Jas. 1:13-15).

I can remember as a kid growing up in Indiana and hearing Aude Mckee warn against the danger of alcoholic beverages and smoking. He said if you never take the first drink, you’ll never become an alcoholic. Likewise, you’ll never become addicted to tobacco, if you never smoke the first cigarette.  That may sound simplistic and trite, but it works.

The same warning can be applied to those who use gateway drugs like marijuana that may lead to more dangerous drugs like cocaine or heroin. Even the use and abuse of prescription pain relievers like oxycodone, hydrocodone, codeine, morphine, and fentanyl can result in opioid addiction. The same principle applies to men who become addicted to pornography.

Like the Canadian Moose who get a taste of salt on cars, we can allow the taste of sin to result in taking chances and putting ourselves in grave danger, not only physically, but more importantly spiritually.

Parents warn their teenagers to refrain from engaging in promiscuous behavior, illicit activities, wild parties, and lascivious recreation because they know the risks of emotions that become sensually aroused. It’s said that “the taste of forbidden fruit is sweet.” Yes, it may be. It’s also dangerous. Deadly. And addictive.

We’re all tempted to sin. Even Jesus was. But we can take steps to mitigate the temptation.

1. Realize that none of us are immune from the Devil’s devious devices (1Cor. 10:12-13).

2. Determine to flee when Satan entices you. (Jas. 4:7). Don’t allow him to get a foothold. Get away. Run away. Drive away.

3. Make no provisions for the flesh (Rom. 13:4).

If you have a strong temptation to drink, don’t hang out with your buddies at a bar, claiming you’re just going to drink a Coke and eat a hamburger.

If you’re tempted to watch pornographic movies, don’t get cable TV with all the movie channels.

If you’re tempted to engage in revelry and riotous behavior, don’t attend parties and places of entertainment where such is the norm.

If you’re a married man, follow the Mike Pence rule. Don’t have secret meetings with a woman who’s not your wife.

Or as one sage said it, “When you flee temptation, be sure you don’t leave a forwarding address.”

Finally instead of tasting “forbidden fruit,” follow the Psalmist’s advice, “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:8). Feed on God’s Word. Drink the water of life. Satiate your appetite with spiritual sustenance.

Watch out. “Don’t let a moose lick your car.”

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman