It was a beautiful day and the air was very still. So why was the plastic bag in the garbage barrel moving like that? Walking over for a closer look, I decided to see what was going on. There must be something alive in that barrel!
Sure enough, I found a bird—a sea gull—looking up at me. It had a frightened look in its eyes.
The bird must have been looking for food and thought it would find something good in the garbage barrel. But when it wanted to get out, there was no room for its large wings to flap, and so it was stuck in the barrel. It could not get out by itself.
Sea gulls were one of the birds included in the list of creatures that God called “unclean.” (We read about this in the Bible in the book of Leviticus.) Not only were there other birds in the list, but also certain animals, fish and insects. They were called “unclean” because of their dirty habits of living or eating. You can easily understand sea gulls being in this list when you see them eating garbage. God told the children of Israel that they could not eat any of these creatures that had “unclean natures.” But He also gave them another list of the creatures that they could eat. These creatures had “clean” habits of living or eating - they had “clean natures.”
In Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23) we learn something about ourselves that is not very good. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” You and I have an “unclean nature”; it is our nature to sin! Often this sinful nature gets us into trouble - trouble we cannot get out of by ourselves. And our friends cannot help us. “None . . . can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him.” Psalm 49:77None of them can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him: (Psalm 49:7).
Back to our trapped sea gull. Was there any hope that it could be freed? Oh yes. The sea gull was easily released from his prison when I tipped over the barrel. He walked out and flew away. As he glided over the water, he seemed glad to be free.
Is there any hope that a sinner can be freed from his sins? Oh yes. God is able. “For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:1717For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:17). Do you know that you need to be saved? “The Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.” Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10). Do you know that you are lost? If you still have not had your sins forgiven by trusting in the Lord Jesus as your Saviour, you are lost and need to be saved from your sins.
Do not wait any longer. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2). The sea gull did not waste any time getting out of that barrel. Be wise and do not waste any time being saved from your sins.
Here’s a story about another “unclean” animal and what happened to it.
While two men were camping they heard some scratching sounds in a garbage can. They discovered a mouse inside. The steep, slippery sides of the can kept him trapped in there. He could not get out of his prison. One of the men tipped over the can to let him out. The mouse came up to the edge and looked around . . . then he turned and went back in again. There were a few scraps of food in there and he wasn’t going to leave them. The men stood the can up again. So the mouse was left inside and in a short time would starve to death.
Do you think the mouse was foolish to do that? He could have had his freedom, but instead he chose to stay in his garbage can prison. Millions of people are just as foolish as that little mouse. They would rather stay in their sins than to be free of them and become Christians.
Which one of these “unclean” creatures are you like? Neither one was “good,” but one was set free and the other died. If you trust in the Lord Jesus, you will be free from your sins. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36). “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But 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. (1 John 1:7). If you refuse to trust in the Lord Jesus, you will die in your sins. “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation.” Hebrews 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3).
Are you a sea gull, or are you a mouse?
ML-01/09/1994
BIBLE