The backyard birdfeeder was a busy place. Lots of hungry birds came by for a good meal of sunflower seeds. One little bird was so greedy that somehow he managed to squeeze under the clear plastic window and get inside. Now he could eat all the seeds he wanted. But suddenly, he realized he was trapped inside the feeder, and then he wasn't one bit interested in the seeds. All he wanted was to get out of there. Instead of squeezing out the same way he got in, he fluttered about frantically.
Taffycat sat sunning herself nearby. Suddenly she saw the little prisoner and decided that a bird inside the feeder might be easier to get than the many on the outside. After climbing up the post, Taffycat couldn't get to the feeding platform, but she managed to scramble onto the feeder roof. She peered over the roof at the little bird still fluttering inside.
Imagine the little bird's terror at seeing the face of his worst enemy just inches away! He flapped and fluttered even more.
What would you do if you had an enemy peering at you around a corner? You would run as fast as you could to a place of safety, wouldn't you. We do have an enemy who is watching us. We can't see him, but he can see us. His name is Satan. But God has provided a wonderful place of safety where each of us can run.
Meanwhile, Taffycat was trying to figure out how to get to that little bird. She leaned way over and tried to reach the narrow platform, but she couldn't do it. So she tried to jump onto the platform, but she missed and fell to the grass. Up she climbed again, tried to jump to the platform and fell again. She tried again and again, always ending up on the grass. Taffycat wasn't going to give up!
Daddy finally took a hand in the matter. He shooed Taffycat away, then lifted the roof of the feeder and let the little bird fly out and away.
Taffycat was a dangerous enemy to that little bird, just like Satan is to us. God's Word, the Bible, tells us to be watchful “because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). If you don't belong to the Lord Jesus, you don't have a place of safety and you will get caught in one of Satan's traps. You are one of his prisoners right now.
But the Lord Jesus loves you and is able to set you free. He was victorious over death and Satan, and His precious blood is able to wash away every stain of your sins. He, alone, can set you free and keep you safe forever by His mighty power. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, [you] shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Have you let the Lord Jesus set you free?
ML-09/21/2008