When the Federal Building was bombed in Oklahoma City, Richard Nichols and his wife were nearby. They were strapping their little nephew into the car after picking him up at the nursery.
Nichols said, “There was a terrific explosion. We felt heat and pressure, and it kind of spun us around a little bit. I thought the boilers blew up! Then I saw this object coming straight at us, spinning like a boomerang. I grabbed my wife, and I grabbed Chad, and I kind of hovered over them like an old mother hen!”
It was a Ryder truck axle—250 pounds of jagged metal—that crashed into their car. All three were badly shaken, but they escaped with no serious injuries.
“Like a mother hen.” It was a good comparison. Mother hens do shelter their chicks under their wings, protecting them from cold or rain or any danger. Stories are even told of a mother hen being burned to death in a prairie fire to protect the little ones under her wings.
Even the Lord Jesus used the example of the mother hen. As He walked the crowded streets of Jerusalem, He looked at the throngs of young people, old people, little children—all that surging sea of humanity, and He cried, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem...how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Matt. 23:3737O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! (Matthew 23:37)).
Now that He has gone back to heaven, He still looks at the masses of humanity with longing love. He is still “not willing that any should perish”—but how often must He say sadly, “But you would not.”
Human nature has not improved in the 2000 years that have passed since that sorrowful cry. Our generation is no better than theirs. Many today are still saying, “NO!” to the Lord of glory! Yet the offer of pardon is still open, and all who come in faith to the Lord Jesus are sure of welcome, sure of pardon, sure of an everlasting life with the Lord Himself.
How sad for those who “will not” and rush on in their own will and way to destruction!
Don’t be one of them. Say, “YES, Lord Jesus,” now!