Recent news about the proliferation of feral pigs in Alabama stirred my interest. For years I’ve heard farmers and hunters complain about wild hogs.

These animals destroy crops to the tune of almost $100 million a year in Alabama alone. Hunters despise them because they devastate food plots for other game.

Feral hogs don’t belong in Alabama. Several hundred years ago Spanish explorers brought the animals here as a meat source. Their rapid rate of reproduction allowed for overpopulation.

The original purpose of the importation sounds wise. Sadly, however, what our forefathers saw as a good idea turned out to be not so good for us. Now wild hogs create a nuisance that early explorers never anticipated.

Feral hogs illustrate a Biblical truth. The decisions of the current generation directly affect the lives of future generations.

For example, God told Adam and Eve not to eat of a certain tree.

Eve, however, “saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Gen. 3:6)

Oops! Bad move. The wrong-headed decision of Adam and Eve began a downhill sin spiral for future generations. The fruit looked good. It tasted good. The end results, however, were not good.

Be aware that decisions you make that seem good for you now may have unintended consequences for those who follow you.

How do you protect against such consequences? Make big decisions only after serious prayer and investigation. Consider how your actions might impact other people.

By the way, it’s open season on wild hogs in Alabama. When prepared properly, they can be quite tasty. Happy hunting and enjoy the sausage.

Darryl Wood is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Vincent. You can reach him at 672-2512 or e-mail dwood132@fbcvincent.org.