Dear Children,
Some time ago I wrote to you about a blue jay that was trapped in our barn. Now this time I’m going to tell you about a black bird that got caught in our raccoon trap! This trap is not made to trap birds. It’s made to trap small animals—like raccoons, possums and, yes, even skunks! But if any bird gets too curious ... ZAP!—CAUGHT!
Do you know who is a master at trapping boys and girls and men and women into his traps of sin? It’s Satan. He uses all kinds of bait, like bad drugs, smoking, drinking alcohol, lying, stealing, swearing and lots more. Sad to say, many boys and girls and older people get caught in Satan’s terrible traps and never get out! Have you ever been caught in one? It’s very easy to get caught ... and then how do you escape? If you really want to know, I’ll tell you in a minute.
Some other creature was eating all the birdseed and bread that I put out at night for the early birds in the morning, and this uninvited animal was eating all of it! So I put some peanut butter and bread and a few raisins inside the trap to catch the critter, but I caught nothing.
While Gramma and I were eating breakfast, we watched some black birds coming close to the trap. They hopped around the trap, on top of the trap, and then ... you guessed it! ... right into the trap and ZAP!—CAUGHT!
This black bird was jumping around and doing its very best to escape, but no way. The trap door had slammed shut, and I am the only one who could release the bird.
Some traps set out by Satan to trap children, teenagers and grown-ups are very difficult to escape from. But, there IS an escape, if you really want it. Someone asked this question years ago: “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation?” (Hebrews 2:33How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; (Hebrews 2:3)). If you are caught in one of Satan’s traps, it leads down to hell and the lake of fire! However, God is offering His free gift of eternal life in heaven. First John 1:77The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (John 1:7) says, “The blood of Jesus Christ [God’s] Son [cleanses] us from all sin,” and we are immediately set free! And then in Luke 15:77I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7) it says, “Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that [repents].” Will you be that one sinner set free today that will give God thanks for saving you from Satan’s trap?
Within ten minutes of that black bird being trapped, I went down the stairs, opened the trap door, and away the bird flew! Free!
Dear children, thank God for the open door into heaven. Jesus said, “I am the door: by Me if any man [woman, boy or girl] enter in, he shall be saved” (John 10:99I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. (John 10:9)).
Lots of love,
Grampa
ML-06/10/2012