After a very wet spring, we finally put out on the deck some chairs and a table with a large umbrella in the center. We keep the umbrella open so that we can sit in its shade on sunny days. We also have a small, white birdhouse that we hung underneath the umbrella in the center.
We noticed something unusual about the birdhouse as we sat at the table a few days later. Bumblebees were going in and out of the hole! They would circle it a few times and then fly inside and back out again. They weren’t bothering us and apparently we weren’t bothering them.
We weren’t afraid of the bumblebees and were actually glad to have them, because bumblebees and honeybees have become scarce in the last few years. Many die from pesticides being sprayed, sometimes a whole hive of bees dies from bee diseases, and many die over the harsh winters.
Bumblebees are not the same as honeybees that are raised in beehives for the honey they produce. Bumblebees are wild, but they are very necessary and valuable for pollinating our fruit trees, vegetable and flower gardens and wildflowers. They are a large, round, black and yellow bee that looks fuzzy and has a loud buzzing sound as they fly from flower to flower. They usually never attack people unless they feel threatened, and they never swarm. So we were willing to have them use the birdhouse, and we enjoyed watching their activity.
After a few weeks, we saw baby bumblebees flying out of the hole and back in again. We found it very interesting to know the adult bees were raising a family! Under the umbrella was an ideal place for them. It gave them shelter from the rain and hot sun, and the birdhouse itself was even more protection. My daughter used a black marker and printed on the front of the birdhouse, “BEE HAVEN.” And now, after three months, they are still flying in and out, ignoring us as they go about their business of collecting nectar and at the same time pollinating all the blossoms they can find. At sundown they fly back into their haven to rest for the night.
You and I can have a haven of rest in Jesus. He will be a shelter for us from the storms of life. When we realize we need a resting place with Him, we must have our sins washed away by the blood of Jesus. God’s Word tells us, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). Once our sins are washed away, we will be not only saved now, but will rest forever in His heavenly home. “Then are they glad because they be quiet; so He [brings] them unto their desired haven” (Psalm 107:3030Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. (Psalm 107:30)).
Jesus is inviting you now. He is saying, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)). What a wonderful invitation! Will you accept it?
ML-11/21/2010