Okay, birds, we’re starting to take this personally. What could possibly be wrong with the birdfeeder we’ve prepared for you?
It’s a perfectly wonderful birdfeeder. We take great pains to serve only the finest bird cuisine. A five-star birdfeeder, I would venture to say. And yet, you snub us. You flit by our feeder like we’re trying to foist school cafeteria mystery meat upon you.
What do you want from us? What would it take to please you?
Yes, I’m feeling rejected. And yes, birds are the source of my angst. And yes, I’m probably becoming a crazy farm person.
Here’s the thing: We had a birdfeeder at our last house and drew quite a regular crowd at our birdy buffet. Same feeder, same food, but these rural Abbeville County birds are having none of it and that annoys me.
I just don’t get the eating habits of wild critters. We have birds who refuse to eat what we want them to eat, and deer who munch through our tender young flowers and shrubs like Sherman marching to the sea.
“Can’t we all just get along?” I plead. “Birds, eat our birdseed. Deer, you can have all the pasture grass and plants you want, but stay out of our yard. Work with me here, you dadgummed varmints.”
I think maybe I’m starting to sound like Yosemite Sam.
If only these creatures could understand that our intentions toward them are good. If they did what we wanted them to do, we’d all be better off.
But, they can’t understand. They have deer and bird brains. We’re as terrifying and mysterious to them as they are exasperating to us.
The one redeeming thing about this impasse is that it helps me understand afresh why God pleaded with His people, through the prophet Isaiah, “Come, let us reason together … .”
Just like I wish I could communicate with the uncooperative creatures in my little kingdom, so too does the God of the universe desire for us to understand and trust that His intentions, motives and plans are good.
He desired it so much, in fact, that He became one of us—took on human flesh in the form of Jesus Christ—to show us His heart, teach us His ways, and make a way for us to be with Him forever.
I wouldn’t have done that. I wouldn’t become a deer or a bird to help them. I’ve seen how they live and I don’t want to live like that. I don’t care that much.
But God does.
Mankind had repeatedly ignored and forgotten God’s words and works, but He didn’t stop trying to get through to us.
I would have. If I had parted the Red Sea, I would’ve dusted off my hands, sat down on my throne, and announced, “Enough said. If that doesn’t convince you, nothing will.”
But God kept trying, and kept trying, and kept trying to reach us. And then, He even became one of us.
In the character, words, and actions of Jesus Christ, people should have been convinced that God’s intentions toward us are good. But most weren’t. Most still aren’t.
God packed a flesh-and-blood body with all of His goodness, all of His love, all of His grace, all of His wisdom … and we crucified Him.
Many continue to pound scornful nails in His hands and feet, but those who don’t—those who by faith open their hearts to Jesus—can feast on God’s kindness, truth, grace, hope and love. Not just here and now, but forever.
I urge you, please don’t flit by Him.
“Taste and see,” as the Psalmist wrote, “that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8)