A LESSON FROM A BIRD

On Wednesday morning, as I was sitting in my study, I heard a noise coming from the boiler-room area. At first, I thought perhaps Calvin Kilmer and/or Keith Mead were working on something, but when I checked, the lights were out and the basement was empty. As the noise continued, I knew what had happened … another bird had found its way down the boiler stack in into the boiler room. Its feathers were a bit ruffled and it was in a state of panic, but I was eventually able to get it to fly out the window—safe and sound.

But, this incident left me wondering why … what would possess a bird to make it fly down a dark tube into a place where could easily die (and a few have over the past year)? During cold weather, perhaps it might be seeking warmth, but the past few days have been unseasonably warm. I don’t see any reason it would expect to find food. Perhaps the bird was looking for shelter, but there’s plenty of other places around. I’ll probably never know the reason, but something must have allured / tempted the bird into a dangerous place.

While some of us may be thinking, “dumb bird,” perhaps we all ought to take a step back and learn a lesson about temptation. In the moment of temptation, there’s always something that either seems mysterious or attractive that quickly pulls a person in without thought of consequences. Then, like the bird in the boiler-room, you’re trapped and can’t find a way out. Satan, the great tempter, likes to make empty promises of pleasure, but fails to note the often lasting effects of succumbing to the temptation.

As Christians, we must always be on high alert. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus warned His disciples, “ Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Mat 26:41 ESV) I hope that we take Christ seriously, and apply this to our everyday life. And, when the temptation comes, use the way of escape (1 Cor. 10:13). Brothers and sisters, choose differently than the bird!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker