My wife and I were out for a walk by a lagoon one summer afternoon, and we noticed a flock of Canada geese swimming in the water.
As we walked closer to the water, we heard a strange tapping noise. Looking around, we saw a goose with a pop can around his neck. He must have been searching for food on the shore and stuck his head into the pop can lying on the ground. The rusted can had lost its top and bottom, and when the goose lifted his head, the can slipped over it.
The tapping noise was made by the goose trying to remove the can from his neck. We could see that there was only one way to help him and that was to slip the can forward over his head. We carefully walked to the edge of the water, but the goose would not let us come near. Every time we moved closer, he would swim away.
The goose knew he had a problem. What he did not realize was that help was available, but he did not trust us to get near enough to free him.
Most people will admit they are sinners, but many do not realize that help is available to free them from their sins and guilt. Instead, they try their own methods to get right with God, but those methods don’t work. God tells us in Titus 3:55Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5) that man’s methods are useless: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to [God’s] mercy He [saves] us.” Freedom from sin and guilt is available, but it’s only through the death of God’s Son Jesus. “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)).
Have you come to Jesus to be set free from your sins?
ML-05/02/2004