When speaking of man's
spiritual condition, God's word uses the analogy of passing from death to life,
and from darkness into light. Another analogy is with bondage and freedom:
John 8:36 - Therefore if the Son makes you free, you
shall be free indeed. (NKJV)
A number of years ago, as I was dropping my wife off
at her place of work, I was informed by a lady that there was something going on
up on the hill by the civic centre. After arriving on the scene, I noticed a
goodly number of people gathered around, watching the sad predicament of a small
animal. It had gotten into the garbage and managed to get a soft drink container
wedged over its head! It was running around not knowing where it was or where to
go. It was completely lost! The reason everyone felt so helpless was because
this little creature was a skunk!
I drove over close to the skunk, got out of my
vehicle, knelt down, and called it over to me. It immediately responded and sat
in front of me. I took the container off its head, and away it went -- truly
grateful, I'm sure!
I was an instant hero with the crowd, and went on my
way feeling grateful that I was able to help a poor, helpless little creature!
As I thought about this incident, I couldn't help but
compare the helpless predicament of this little animal friend with our helpless
state as sinners before a righteous God! The Bible says that we are dead in sin
and completely helpless to do anything about our fallen condition. But thanks be
to God! He has changed the outcome for many of us! Jesus preached from the book
of Isaiah:
Luke 4:18 - The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because
He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the
brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the
blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed. (NKJV)
As I took that container off the head of that poor
helpless creature and set it free, I thought of how God had done the same for us
on a much grander scale! Like the skunk, we were completely helpless and
wandering around in darkness. I also realized further that just as that little
animal had to have faith in me when I called it over, by coming and sitting
helpless before me to set it free, we also must respond to God's call in our
lives to come to the Saviour! We must be willing to have faith in the only One
who can give us eternal life, set us free from our darkness, and bring us into
the light of His salvation! Without this there is no hope!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the examples
in life that remind us of Your great love for us. Your word tells us that Your
very creation is a witness against those who choose to reject You! Like that
little animal, we, too, are completely helpless and in darkness. But thank You
for Your great love in giving us Your only begotten Son, who by His blood and
bodily resurrection has brought us out of darkness into the light, out from
death and into life! May we never lose sight of the fact that our salvation is
all grace! In Christ's mighty name, we pray. Amen.
Bob Jones
bobinzjo@nb.sympatico.ca
Grafton, New Brunswick, Canada
Thanks to http://daily.presbycan.ca
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