THE EMPTY BIRDCAGE

In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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THE EMPTY BIRDCAGE

 

There once was a man named George Thomas, a pastor in a small New England town.  One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit.  Several eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak.  "I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage.  In the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright.  I stopped the lad and asked, "What you got there son?"  "Just some old birds," came the reply.  "What are you gonna do with them?" I asked.  "Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered.  I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight.  I'm gonna have a real good time."  "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later.  What will you do then?"  "Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds.  I'll take 'em to them." 

The pastor was silent for a moment.  "How much do you want for those birds, son?” “Huh?  Why, you don't want them birds, mister.  They're just plain old field birds.  They don't sing -- they ain't even pretty!"  "How much?" the pastor asked again.  The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?"  The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill.  He placed it in the boy's hand.  In a flash, the boy was gone.  The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot.  Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free.  Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story.

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation.  Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting.  “Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there.  Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist.  Got 'em all!"  "What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.  Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun!  I'm gonna teach them how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse.  I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other.  I'm really gonna have fun!"  "And what will you do when you get done with them?"  Jesus asked.  "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly.  "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked.  "Oh, you don't want those people.  They ain't no good.  Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you.  They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you!! You don't want those people!!"  "How much?" He asked again.  Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your tears, and all your blood."  Jesus said, "DONE!"  Then He paid the price.  The pastor picked up the cage, he opened the door and he walked from the pulpit. 

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If you have never received Jesus Christ personally, He invites you to do so now. If you are unsure that you will spend eternity with Him in Heaven, it is vital that you pray the prayer that follows. Tomorrow may be too late. This is not an exaggeration - if anyone had told the victims of "911" the day before that, "tomorrow when you go to work an airplane is going to crash into the building, and you will die," they probably would not only not have believed it, but been convinced that person was crazy. we are living in perilous times.

if you re sure of heaven, but your assurance is based on your goodness, you are deceived. our assurance of eternal life is not based on our goodness, or our good works. church attendance, being a faithful spouse, a good parent, hard worker, a good provider, volunteer work, etc..., are all admirable, but will not get you into heaven. if that were possible, then Jesus suffered on the cross needlessly. if we could get to heaven on our own (or if there was any other way, there would have been no reason for Him to die such a humiliating, excruciating death.). 

"for by grace are you saved through faith and not by your own efforts; it is the gift of God. It is not achieved by works, lest any man should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9  "All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23

 

(From "Triumph Over Terrorism" by Esther King, 2004, pages 119-122)

Link to MORE INSPIRATIONAL TEXTS 

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In the "New Covenant" made by our Creator God with humanity, as reported in Jeremiah 31:31-34, every human being can know God from within - because the Holy Spirit is revealing our Creator to all who are willing to know the Lord and trust in Him. We can still help each other along the way; so may you be pleased to find here a variety of helps to the life of faith in God through Jesus Christ. G.S.

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© 2006-2021 All rights reserved Fr. Gilles Surprenant, Associate Priest of Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montreal  QC
© 2006-2021 Tous droits réservés Abbé Gilles Surprenant, Prêtre Associé de Madonna House Apostolate & Poustinik, Montréal QC 

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