The Bird in the Boat

 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 6
 
It had been a pleasant day for the young couple in the small sailboat; they had enjoyed fresh breezes and warm sunshine. But the day was drawing to a close and they were tired, so they decided to call it a day and turned their sails toward the boat ramp two miles away.
Suddenly they noticed coming toward them a small bird flying very erratically. He fluttered into the boat, quite ruffled and a little anxious as he looked up at the human occupants! He must have been relieved to find a resting-place for his weary body, after traveling far over the open water, and he looked frightened and LOST. But one thing was sure: Though weary, he was SAFE.
Quietly he rode along with the young sailors until at last they reached land and beached their boat. Then a rescued and rested little bird looked around with his bright eyes, selected the nearest tree, and was off to a secure perch as fast as his wings could fly.
Many souls are like this little bird; they wander through life, never finding real rest, peace or happiness. Are you tired of endless searching? Are the years of life taking their toll? Are you without hope and without God in the world? Just as there was a rest and a refuge for the travel-weary little bird, there is a refuge and rest for the sinner who comes to God through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus says, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). For those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and the blood He shed on the cross for them, there is real rest, peace and happiness. Once lost, now found! They are eternally SAFE and secure.
In John 10:27-2827My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:27‑28) Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish.” There is no fear of death or hell.
What is ahead for the Christ-rejecting soul, still wandering in his sins, still blindly groping for reality? If he dies in his sins, he will spend an eternity in hell-in the place of “weeping” and of “blackness of darkness” forever.
Do not wait another minute! “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:3131And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31)). Your wanderings will be over and your rest for eternity will begin.