Perhaps you’ve heard a person or an idea unkindly characterized as being “birdbrained.” This past spring I observed a truly “birdbrained idea.”
One March day—which in Iowa can be deceptively warm or genuinely cold and miserable—we were treated to a lovely spring-like day. So, though I didn’t use our grill, I removed its winter cover. Two months later we finally decided to barbecue. Opening the cover, I was shocked to find a large bird’s nest formed from leaves, twigs, grass and other debris.
To the pair of starlings, it must have appeared an excellent location for their nest. Its sturdy metal cover kept out the rain, wind and hail of spring storms, and its entrance opening was too small to admit egg-stealing squirrels. What a great place for a family!
Unfortunately, the birds didn’t understand the danger and significance of the metal tube at the bottom of the grill containing a row of small holes which was attached to a white propane tank below.
Had I not opened the grill lid prior to turning on the propane and clicking the starter button that day, both the birds and I would have received a very warm and unwelcome surprise.
I left the lid open while getting some things needed to clean the grill. Looking through the patio door, I could see the starlings landing on the exposed nest. The open lid told them that though their nest seemed undisturbed, something strange had happened. For several more minutes, they nervously flew back and forth, lighting on their nest, peering at the open lid and the interior, and then flying away. I removed the nest materials and then turned the burner on high, allowing the fire to do its cleansing.
The starlings, now seeing the lid closed, flew back to their home! This time they tried entering the nest through the gap in the lid they had previously used. Though the fire drove them back, they perched helplessly on the grill shelf, heads cocked, still unwilling to leave. Finally, convinced their nest was lost, they flew away, and I haven’t seen them since.
We may think it unfortunate that the birds spent so much effort building in a place soon to be destroyed. But we who are heavenly citizens ought to consider whether we may be doing the very same thing.
“The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night . . . the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:1010But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. (2 Peter 3:10)). The infallible Word of God could not be more clear: Everything we see around us will be destroyed by that fire of divine judgment. The Spirit then asks, “What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:1111Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, (2 Peter 3:11)). If we really believed a solemn judgment of God is soon to fall on this world, would we spend our time and energy trying to build a place of rest and safety in it?
For one hundred twenty years, Noah built a place of safety against coming judgment. We have no record he spent any of that time fixing up or building something secure outside the ark. May we—Christians—be as wise! “I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock” (Matt. 7:2424Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (Matthew 7:24)).
Ed.