As Paul and Lorraine drove by the playground, they were surprised to see a flock of at least 25 ravens hovering near the ground. They all seemed to be cawing and squawking and frantically flapping their wings. Paul slowed the car and then was able to see that one of the ravens had become entangled in the net of the soccer goal.
“I have to free that raven,” Paul said. He parked the car and got out. Slowly he walked toward the captured bird. The other ravens now became even more frantic, trying to beat at him with their wings, but Paul patiently edged toward the goal, speaking very softly to the upset birds.
How kind and patient the Lord Jesus is with us. We are lost, guilty sinners entangled in our sins. And like those birds, sometimes our friends try to keep us from accepting the freedom the Lord Jesus longs to give us. Do you know that Jesus loves you so much that He was willing to come down from heaven and die on a cross of shame so you could be set free from your sins? No one else loves you like that!
Soon Paul was right beside the poor raven that was caught in the net. He smoothed the bird’s feathers and began to try to loosen it. But he found that the raven had worked so hard to get out of the net that it had managed to wrap the net around and around itself. There was no way Paul could release the bird without cutting the cords of the net.
The Bible tells us, “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins” (Proverbs 5:2222His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins. (Proverbs 5:22)). Those cords of our sins holding us so tightly can only be cut by the Lord Jesus. “If the Son 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)).
Lorraine searched in the glove box of the car and found a knife. It wasn’t long before Paul had cut the net and the raven was free.
For a moment the bird just sat on the ground watching Paul and Lorraine, then it flapped its wings and flew away. When the raven flew, all the other ravens cawed. In their own way they seemed to be glad that their friend was free. For a while the birds flew in a circle above the playground, cawing for all they were worth. They sounded happy. Then they flew away.
Luke 15:1010Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:10) tells us “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” The Lord Jesus wants us to be thankful too. He says in Psalm 50:2323Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:23), “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me.” So let’s praise Him and thank Him as long as we’re on this earth. One day soon all of us who have been washed from our sins in His precious blood will “fly away” to heaven in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. That’s when the Lord Jesus Himself will come from heaven and catch up all His blood-bought children to be forever with Himself. How happy we will be then.
ML-09/10/1995