Freebird

'We have escaped like a bird from the fowler’s snare’

Psalm 124:7

I was six years old, when a wounded blackbird fell onto our driveway.  It was the first time I saw a bird that couldn’t fly. Dad gently scooped our feathered friend into his hands and placed it carefully in the veranda while we made a wooden box. The box was a type of hospital for the bird to rest. It had a sliding lid on the bottom and mesh wire on top to let in daylight and fresh air. Locked securely in its mini cage the bird was safe. We’d look after it. Its wounds would heal. He’d be released and glide through the sky once more.

Next morning I took the bird its breakfast (bread and water). I approached the box and discovered sadly it had died. Skin raw-blooded-abrasions marked its orangey-yellow beak. Repeatedly through the night the bird had battered against the wire mesh attempting to free itself, only to die in captivity. It couldn’t liberate itself.

I reflect on that upsetting day. It’s possible to fall into captivity and be confined until you perish.

History sometimes repeats itself. Almost anyway. Forty years later, I sat in our conservatory reading a newspaper. A blackbird jetted through an open top window and tumbled onto the bottom ledge. It had trapped itself inside the conservatory. Left to itself the bird had no way of escape. It pushed its beak against the lower windowpane and looked out into the garden from which it had come.  

I didn’t have the confidence to scoop the bird into my hands. I didn’t want to make it panic either because it would fly around inside the conservatory bashing itself against the windows. So, I folded my newspaper in half. The bird stayed still as I approached. It was very cooperative and allowed me to gently slide the newspaper underneath its storky feet.  

The bird waited patiently upstanding on the flat folded newspaper. I raised the feathered creature above my shoulder until it was level with the open window again. Immediately the bird launched itself back out through the open window into the garden. Within seconds it sat happily on the fence. Looking back at the conservatory the bird whistled melodic fluted warbles.

Like the bird before him It had fallen into captivity. It too was unable to escape by itself.  But with the right help it took its flight freedom.

We are not blackbirds of course. But the Bible says that we live in a fallen world and that we are captive ‘slaves to sin’.

We have two choices. We can remain enslaved and perish in our sins. Or we can get God’s help and be liberated.

‘if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed’ said Jesus.

John 8:36

Keep in mind Jesus, was speaking to fellow Jews.

The Jews had a history of being enslaved and forced into captivity. They suffered, Egyptian Enslavement. Babylonian Exile. Persian/Median Exile. Greek/Hellenistic Exile. Roman Exile.

Follow this link for more details on Jewish captivities.  https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3671017/jewish/Discover-the-Four-Exiles-of-the-Jewish-People.htm

Human freedom is fickle. Personal freedoms and independent liberties are short lived. The world in which we live eventually takes all our liberty away.

Military freedom is essential to the independence of nations. But military freedom doesn’t last. Political freedom is essential to every democracy. But political freedom doesn’t last. Inner freedom is required for peace of mind and mental health. But freedom from anxiety and stress doesn’t last.

Jesus, spoke of a supreme, peerless and absolute freedom. A forever freedom that we can have in a relationship with God.

Whoever the Son sets free, will be free indeed.

Time cannot take God’s supreme freedom away. Wars cannot take God’s supreme freedom away. Politicians cannot take God’s supreme freedom away. Terrorists cannot take God’s supreme freedom away. Pandemics, infectious diseases or environmental catastrophes cannot take God’s supreme freedom away. Addictions cannot take God’s supreme freedom away.

False religions cannot take God’s supreme freedom away. Philosophies cannot take God’s supreme freedom away. Personal tragedies cannot take God’s supreme freedom away.

Even the grave in which our body finally lies buried, six-foot underground, cannot not take God’s supreme freedom away.

‘For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” John 6:40

The freedom of Christ lasts. It’s a Holy Spirit freedom. It’s a soul redeeming freedom. It’s a boundless freedom.

Whoever Jesus sets free is free indeed.

5 Bible verses for your ultimate freedom

1. As an individual you are free to seek and find God Isaiah 55:6 Amos 5:4 Romans 10:11
2. Redemptive freedom is a unique privilege which is granted to every believer Psalm 119:45 Romans 8:21
3. You can have freedom from the penalty of sin 1 Thessalonians 1:10
4. You can have freedom from the permanency of death 1 Colossians 15:22-23 Romans 5:12-17
5. You can have freedom from the power of Satan, and freedom from the dominion of darkness Colossians 1:13-14

Go get some lasting freedom! A guide to becoming a Christian