The people who worked in the large grocery store named him Fred. He had been living in the store for nearly two weeks. He seemed to be happy and content as he glided across the 25 aisles. Customers pushing their carts up and down the aisles didn’t seem to bother him.
Before living in the store, Fred had lived his entire life outdoors with his many friends and relatives. You see, Fred is a little sparrow, and sparrows belong outside. But one day when the doors were propped open, he swooped inside, maybe just to see what it was like in there.
He liked what he found. There was lots of room to fly. He found fresh green plants in the produce section to peck and nibble on. After the first couple of days, a lady who worked in the store began putting out some bread crumbs and other food for Fred. He ate it and liked it. Everything seemed pretty nice for Fred in his new living quarters.
Fred isn’t the only one looking for something different. Sometimes a boy or girl gets tired of the same old friends, the same old backyard, and the same old games. He wants something different . . . something new for a change. Then one day a school friend asks him to come to his house after school. The friend explains that his mom isn’t home and he has some secret things he wants to show him. Sounds like fun! Sounds enticing!
If Fred could talk, he might warn that boy or girl how his adventure turned out. But since he can’t, we’ll tell you what happened and include this warning God gives us from the Bible: “My son [or daughter], if sinners entice thee, consent thou not” (Proverbs 1:1010My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. (Proverbs 1:10)).
After a few more days of flying around the store, the manager decided it was time to get Fred out of there. They tried catching him with fishing nets.
Now Fred was scared, and I’m sure he wanted to get out of there. He was discovering that a store was not a good place for a bird to live.
Then the manager called the Anti-Cruelty Society for help, but they just laughed. They suggested the store turn off all its lights and leave the doors open, thinking Fred would fly toward the daylight and out the door. But the manager couldn’t do that because the store is open 24 hours a day.
So for now, Fred has to go on living in the store even though he isn’t welcome. He probably wishes he were back outside enjoying the sunlight and trees and seeds that he used to eat, but he doesn’t know how to get out.
And this is just the way Satan traps boys and girls. When boys and girls are looking for something different, Satan often sends someone to tempt them to try smoking, or to look at bad magazines, or to take drugs with the promise that they will make them feel good. Satan knows just how to present his temptations . . . he makes them look like something fun or daring the first time. But then when boys and girls discover that what they are doing is not good and is not fun anymore, it’s often a habit they cannot stop. Satan does not care, because he has them trapped.
We hope there is a way out for Fred, but for boys and girls we know there is a way out. The Lord Jesus Christ loves you and He cares very much about you. He wants to save you from your sins and their habits, and He is the only one who can. He says: “I, even I, am the Lord; and beside Me there is no savior” (Isaiah 43:1111I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour. (Isaiah 43:11)). When the Lord Jesus died on Calvary’s cross and rose again alive, He broke Satan’s power of sin. And now He is able to free every boy and girl who will come to Him, believing that He died for their sins. God tells us, “If the Son [the Lord Jesus] therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:3636If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. (John 8:36)). And that’s a promise!
Will you let the Lord Jesus free you from your sins and Satan’s power?
ML-11/18/2018