Life's Challenges - Stories - Jesus
| God's Geese | One Solitary Life | The Sting | ||
| Jesus Is | The Bird Cage | The Visitor | ||
| John 3:16 | The Pit | This Man "Jesus" | ||
| Letter From Jesus | The Prize | Who Am I? | ||
| My Day In Court | The Room | Who is This Man? |
This Man "Jesus"
2000 years ago there was a man born contrary to the laws
of nature.
This man was reared in obscurity. Earthly riches were
not important to Him.
He did not travel extensively, only once did He cross
the boundary of the country in which He lived and that
was during His exile in childhood to Egypt.
In infancy, He startled a king;
In childhood, He amazed Jewish leaders; In manhood, He
ruled the course of nature, walking upon the billows as
if pavement. He hushed the sea to sleep.
He healed multitudes without medicine and made no charge
for His service.
He never wrote a book, and yet all the libraries of the
country could not hold the books that have been written
about Him, He never wrote a song, and yet He has
furnished the theme for more songs than all the
songwriters combined.
He never founded a college, but all the schools put
together cannot boast of having as many students.
He never practiced psychiatry and yet He has healed more
broken hearts than all the doctors far and near. Names
of great scientists, philosophers and theologians have
come and gone; but the Name of this Man abounds more and
more.
Herod the Great could not destroy Him and the grave
could not hold Him.
His Name stands highest of Heavenly glory, acknowledged
by angels and feared by devils.
"For the life of the flesh is in the blood and I have
given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for
your souls; for it is the blood that maketh an atonement
for the soul."
As the living personal Christ, the Messiah and Savior,
the Redeemer of Man:
Here is God's appointed sacrifice for sins.
Long ago, God's divine principle was established that
"without the shedding of blood, there is no remission."
Today God, in wondrous love, tells us, "The blood of
Jesus Christ His Son, cleanseth us from all sin."
Jesus is the only One that has fulfilled all of the
Scriptures regarding Messiah's birth, ministry, death
and resurrection. There are over 300 prophetic
Scriptures in the Old Testament concerning messiah's
incarnation.
Jesus fulfilled them all.
Great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in
the flesh in order that He might die for you.
He came to earth but was rejected by the people as their
king at that time.
He is going to come to this earth again, and then He
will be accepted as, not only King of the Jews but as
King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Author Unknown
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One Solitary Life
He was born in an obscure village, the Child of a
peasant woman. He grew up in another village, where He
worked in a carpenter's shop
until He was thirty. Then for three years, He was an
itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He
never held an office. He never had a family, or owned a
home. He didn't go to college. He never visited a big
city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the
place where He was born. He did none of the things
that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials
but Himself.
He was only thirty-three when the tide of public opinion
turned against Him. His friends ran away. One of them
denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies, and went
through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a
cross, between two thieves.
While He was dying...His executioners gambled for His
garments, the only property He had on earth. When He was
dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity
of a friend.
Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today, He is
the central Figure of the human race. All the armies
that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all
the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever
reigned, put together, have not affected the life of
mankind on this earth as much as that... One
Solitary Life.
Author Unknown
The
Pit
A man fell into a pit and couldn't get himself out.
A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there."
An objective person walked by and said, "It's logical that someone would fall
down there."
A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into pits."
A mathematician calculated how he fell into the pit.
A news reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit.
An IRS agent asked if he was paying taxes on the pit.
A self-pitying person said, "You haven't seen anything until you've seen my
pit."
A Christian Scientist observed, "The pit is just in your mind."
A psychologist noted, "Your mother and father are to blame for your being in the
pit."
A self-esteem therapist said, "Believe in yourself and you can get out of the
pit."
An optimist said, "Things could be worse."
A pessimist said, "Things will get worse."
Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit.
Author Unknown
John 3:16
In the city of Chicago, one cold, dark night, a blizzard was setting in. A
little boy was selling newspapers on the corner, while other people were in and
out of the cold. The little boy was so cold that he wasn't trying to sell many
papers. He walked up to a policeman and said, "Mister, you wouldn't happen to
know where a poor boy could find a warm place to sleep tonight would you? You
see, I sleep in a box up around the corner there and down the alley, and it's
awful cold in there at night. It sure would be nice to have a warm place to
stay."
The policeman looked down at the little boy and said, "You go down the street to
that big white house and you knock on the door. When they open the door you just
say 'John 3:16' and they will let you in."
So the boy walked up the steps to the door, and knocked on the door and a lady
answered. The little boy looked up and said, "John 3:16."
The lady said "Come on in, Son." She took him in and she sat him down in a split
bottom rocker in front of a great big old fireplace and she went off. He sat
there for a while, and thought to himself "John 3:16... I don't understand it,
but it sure makes a cold boy feel warm."
Later she came back and asked him "Are you hungry?"
He said, "Well, just a little. I haven't eaten in a couple of days and guess I
could stand a little bit of food."
The lady took him in the kitchen and sat him down to a table full of wonderful
food. He ate and ate until he couldn't eat any more. Then he thought to himself
"John 3:16... Boy, I sure I don't understand it, but it sure makes a hungry boy
feel full."
She took him upstairs to a bathroom to a huge bathtub filled with warm water and
he sat there and soaked for a while. As he soaked, he thought to himself, "John
3:16... I sure don't understand it, but it sure makes a dirty boy feel clean.
You know, I've not had a bath, a real bath, in my whole life. The only bath I
ever had was when I stood in front of that big old fire hydrant as they flushed
it out."
The lady came in and got him, and took him to a room and tucked him into a big
old feather bed and pulled the covers up around his neck and kissed him
goodnight and turned out the lights. As he laid in the darkness and looked out
the window at the snow coming down on that cold night he thought to himself,
"John 3:16... I don't understand it, but it sure makes a tired boy feel rested."
The next morning she came back up and took him down again to that same big table
full of food. After he ate she took him back to that same big old split bottom
rocker in front of the fireplace and she got a big old Bible and sat down in
front of him and she looked up as she asked, "Do you understand John 3:16?"
He said, "No, Ma'am, I don't. The first time I ever heard it was last night when
the policeman told me to say John 3:16."
She opened the Bible to John 3:16 , and she began to explain to him about Jesus.
Right there in front of that big old fireplace he gave his heart and life to
Jesus. He sat there and thought, "John 3:16, I don't understand it, but it sure
makes a lost boy feel safe."
The lady then said: "You know, I have to confess I don't I understand it either;
how God would be willing to send His own Son to die for you and me, and how
Jesus would agree to do such a thing. I don't understand it either, but it sure
does make life worth living."
John 3:16 (NLT): "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that
everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life."
Author Unknown
Who Am I?
Only a short while ago the Lord's friends gathered around to hear Him speak
of great and wonderful things. The things of God, eternal things. We
hung on every word, savoring it, digesting it. Now, they are gone and I alone
remain, sitting at His feet. Like a delicate fragrance, the sound of
His voice seems to linger in the air. I breath in the essence of His presence
and sigh. It's good that I should be here; I want to stay forever.
For a moment He shuffles in His seat and I fear that my Lord is going to leave.
My heart sinks until I realize He is leaning forward and reaching out
His hands to me. All at once the child in me comes alive as Jesus lifts me to
His lap and cradles me in His arms. Tears of joy fill my eyes and
overflow, cascading down my cheeks. I weep softly and bury my face in the folds
of His robe as His strong arms close around me.
Who am I that the Lord should hold me so tenderly? Did He hear my anguished cry
for more of Him? Had He peered into the depths of my heart and
dug through the sin and deeply rooted pride and greed and actually found some
good buried there? Is there any good in me? I am still so slow to
learn, so quick to fall. My reasoning weaves a maze through my mind as I try to
comprehend. As Jesus draws me closer to Himself, a thread of gold enters
the woven maze in my mind and I understand. Jesus holds me not because of my
goodness, but His; not because of my love for Him, but rather, because of
His great love for me. My thoughts become a blur, struggling to grasp what is
unimaginable for the human mind. He is able to do exceedingly and
abundantly more than I think or imagine. My Lord and my God loves me. I savor
this delicious morsel of truth as He gently cradles me
in His strong arms like a dear beloved child, and holds me close to His chest. A
favorite Scripture from Isaiah comes to mind:
"You are mine, you are precious in my sight and I love you." I ponder this,
these words meant for me as well.
As I listened to the Savior's heartbeat, He also was listening to mine. What I
couldn't put into words He heard from the cry of my heart. My desire
for Him. My love for Him. My longing to be with Him. And the heartbreaking
sorrow I felt for ever having done anything that put a distance between my
beloved Jesus and I. For a moment He stops rocking me and I can feel His warm
breath on my forehead. He tenderly says, child, look at me. I am
reluctant to look up because I know that my eyes will meet His. What I have
longed for, now suddenly fills me with dread. I fear what He will see in the
face of this unworthy child. His fingers are beneath my chin and He raises my
head until my eyes meet His. What I see is more beautiful than words can
express. In His eyes there is an ocean of love, deeper, wider, and higher than
all the world can contain. His eyes are the color of mercy.
For a moment I feel as if I am little more than an ant at the foot of the cross,
just beginning to comprehend His love and sacrifice. The King of all the
universe
is gazing into my eyes and communicating His love to me.
Jesus' hand is warm against my face. He cups my cheek and wipes away my tears
with His thumb. God's thumb, wiping away my tears. He holds my face
firmly for a moment and looks deep into my eyes as if to say, this is important,
listen to Me. His eyes seem to plead with me as He speaks. He
wants me to understand and believe it. As His eyes fill with tears, He says,
"This is why I did it; so I could hold you and love you for eternity."
Author Unknown
Author Unknown
Who is This Man?
There was an atheist couple who had a child. The couple never told their
daughter anything about the Lord. One night when the little girl was 5 years
old, the parents fought with each other and the dad shot the mom, right in front
of the child. Then, the dad shot himself. The little girl watched it all.
She then was sent to a foster home. The foster mother was a Christian and took
the child to church. On the first day of Sunday School, the foster mother told
the teacher that the girl had never heard of Jesus, and to have patience with
her. The teacher held up a picture of Jesus and said, ''Does anyone know who
this is?''
The little girl said, ''I do, that's the man who was holding me the night my
parents died.''
Author Unknown
The Prize
A billionaire oil tycoon from Texas decided to find a husband for his only
daughter, a rather homely 18-year-old. He initiated his search by inviting local
bachelors to a party in his backyard. A large, elegantly designed swimming pool
dominated the yard. As the men edged by it to get their refreshments, they saw
it was filled with man-eating sharks, piranhas, alligators, and other animals
that wouldn't think twice about eating you alive.
Clustering beside the pool, the bachelors puzzled over the strange sight. Just
then the tycoon appeared on the patio and gave an emotional speech, telling how
much he loved his daughter and expressing how much he wanted her to marry
someone deserving of her. He then laid out The Deal. "Anyone who will jump in
the swimming pool and swim to the other side will have their choice of a check
for one million dollars with no questions asked or the title deed to my most
profitable oil field or the hand of my daughter in marriage and your place in my
will, which will result in your inheriting my entire fortune."
The bachelors were speechless. Their questioning looks seemed to say that none
of them would be crazy enough to risk his life--even for all that money. The
long silence was finally broken by a splash. Everyone turned to see one of the
men swimming to the far side of the pool as fast as any Olympic swimmer. Leaping
out of the water, he shook himself and stalked back to the tycoon. With a hug
and a handshake, the tycoon congratulated the young man on a fine swim. "Son,
would you like a million dollar check?" he asked. "No sir, I wouldn't,"
responded the young man politely, and slightly out of breath. "Fine," said the
tycoon. "Then would you like my most
profitable oil field?" "No sir," he replied, getting a hold on himself. With a
tear in his eye the tycoon asked, "Then, my boy, would you like my only
daughter's hand in marriage?" To the surprise of the gawking bachelors, the
young man replied, "No sir." Puzzled and a little hurt, the tycoon asked, "Well
then, son, what do you want?" "I only want one thing," answered the young man
with assurance. "I want the name of the guy who pushed me in the pool."
Nobody would willingly jump into a shark-infested pool--even for a million
dollars. And nobody would willingly let themselves be nailed to a Roman
cross-even if he thought he might get some fame or recognition out of it.
Jesus let himself be nailed to that cross, not because there was something in it
for Him personally, but because there was something in it for you and me. Jesus
did more than risk His life for us; Jesus gave His life for us. Nobody pushed
Him into it; He chose to die because He loves us.
Author Unknown
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The Room
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There
were no distinguishing features except the one wall covered with small index
cards files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or
subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to
ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different
readings.
As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that
read "Girls I Have Liked." I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I
quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each
one. And then, without being told, I knew exactly where I was.
This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life.
Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my
memory couldn't match.
A sense of wonder and curiosity, coupled with horror, stirred within me as I
began randomly opening files and exploring their content. Some brought joy and
sweet memories; others a sense of shame and regret so intense that I would look
over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching.
A file named "Friends" was next to one marked "Friends I have Betrayed." The
titles ranged from the mundane to the outright weird. "Books I Have Read," "Lies
I have Told," "Comfort I Have Given," "Jokes I Have Laughed At," Some were
almost hilarious in their exactness: "Things I Have Yelled at My Brothers."
Others I couldn't laugh at: "Things I Have Done In My Anger," "Things I Have
Muttered Under My Breath At My Parents."
I never ceased to be surprised by the contents. Often there were many more cards
than I expected. Sometimes fewer than I'd hoped. I was overwhelmed by the sheer
volume of the life I had lived. Could it be possible that I had the time in my
20 years to write each of these thousands or even millions of cards? But each
card confirmed this truth. Each was written in my own handwriting and was signed
with my own signature. When I pulled out the file marked "Songs I have Listened
To," I realized the files grew to contain their contents. The cards were packed
tightly, and yet after two or three yards, I hadn't found the end of the file. I
shut it, shamed, not so much by the quality of the music, but more by the vast
amount of time I knew that file represented.
When I came to a file marked "Lustful Thoughts," I felt a chill run through my
body. I pulled the file out only an inch, not willing to test its size, and drew
out a card. I shuddered at its detailed content. I felt sick to think that such
a moment had been recorded. An almost animal rage broke on me.
One thought dominated my mind: "No one must ever see these cards! No one must
ever see this room! I have to destroy them." In an insane frenzy, I yanked the
file out. Its size didn't matter now. I had to empty and burn the cards. But as
I took it at one end and began pounding it on the floor, I couldn't dislodge a
single card. I became desperate and pulled out a card, only to find it as strong
as steel when I tried to tear it.
Defeated and utterly helpless, I returned the file to its slot. Leaning my
forehead against the wall, I let out a long, self-pitying sigh. And then I saw
it. The title bore "People I have Shared The Gospel With." The handle was
brighter than those around it, newer, almost unused. I pulled its handle and a
small box not more than three inches long fell into my hands. I could count the
cards it contained on one hand. And then the tears came.
I began to weep.
Sobs so deep that the hurt started in my stomach and shook through me. I fell on
my knees and cried. I cried out of shame, from the overwhelming shame of it all.
The rows of file shelves swirled in my tear-filled eyes. No one must ever know
of this room. I must lock it up and hide the key.
But then as I pushed away the tears, I saw Him. No, please not Him. Not here.
Oh, anyone but Jesus. I watched helplessly as he began opening the files and
read the cards. I couldn't bear to watch His response. And in the moments I
could bring myself to look at His face, I saw a sorrow deeper than my own. He
seemed to intuitively go to the worst boxes. Why did He have to read every one?
Finally He turned and looked at me from across the room. He looked at me with
pity in His eyes. But this was a pity that didn't anger me. I dropped my head,
covered my face with my hands and began to cry again. He walked over to me and
put His arm around me. He could have said so many things.
But He didn't say a word. He just cried with me. Then He got up and walked back
to the wall of files. Starting at one end of the room, He took out a file and
one by one, began to sign His name over mine on each card.
"No!" I shouted rushing to Him. All I could find to say was, "No, no," as I
pulled the card from Him. His name shouldn't be on these cards. But there it
was, written in red so rich, so dark, so alive. The name of Jesus covered mine.
It was written with His blood.
He gently took the card back. He smiled a sad smile and began to sign the cards.
I don't think I'll ever understand how He did it so quickly, but the next
instant it seemed I heard Him close the last file and walk back to my side. He
placed His hand on my shoulder and said, "It is finished." I stood up and He led
me out of the room.
There was no lock on its door. There were still cards to be written.
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Phil. 4:13
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever
believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16
Author Unknown
My Day In Court
After living a "decent" life my time on earth came to an end. The first thing I
remember is sitting on a bench in the waiting room of what I thought to be a
courthouse. The doors opened and I was instructed to come in and have a seat by
the defense table. As I looked around I saw the "prosecutor," he was a
villainous looking gent who snarled, as he stared at me. He definitely was the
most evil person I have ever seen. I sat down and looked to my left and there
sat my lawyer, a kind and gentle looking man whose appearance seemed very
familiar to me. The corner door flew open and there appeared the judge in full
flowing robes. He commanded an awesome presence as he moved across the room, and
I couldn't take my eyes off him. As he took his seat behind the bench, he said
"Let us begin."
The prosecutor rose and said "My name is Satan, and I am here to show you why
this man belongs in hell." He proceeded to tell of lies that I told, things that
I stole and in the past when I cheated others. Satan told of other horrible
perversions that were once in my life, and the more he spoke the further down in
my seat I sank. I was so embarrassed that I couldn't look at anyone, even my own
lawyer, as the Devil told of sins that even I had completely forgotten about.
As upset as I was at Satan for telling all these things about me, I was equally
upset at my representative who sat there silently not offering any form of
defense at all. I know I had been guilty of those things, but I had done some
good in my life -- couldn't that at least equal out part of the harm I've done.
Satan finished with a fury and said "This man belongs in hell. he is guilty of
all that I have charged and there is not a person who can prove otherwise.
Justice will finally be served this day."
When it was his turn, my lawyer first asked if he might approach the bench. The
judge allowed this over the strong objection of Satan and beckoned him to come
forward. As he got up and started walking I was able to see him now in his full
splendor and majesty. Now I realized why he seemed so familiar. his was Jesus
representing me; my Lord and my Savior. He stopped at the bench and softly said
to the judge, "Hi Dad," and then He turned to address the court.
"Satan was correct in saying that this man had sinned. I won't deny any of these
allegations. And yes the wages of sins is death and this man deserves to be
punished". Jesus took a deep breath and turned to His Father with outstretched
arms and proclaimed, "However, I died on the cross so that this person might
have eternal life, and he has accepted Me as his Savior, so he is mine." My Lord
continued with "His name is written in the book of life and no one can snatch
him from Me. Satan still does not understand yet, this man is not to be given
justice, but rather mercy."
As Jesus sat down, He quietly paused, looked at his Father and replied, "There
is nothing else that needs to be done, I've done it all."
The Judge lifted His mighty hand and slammed the gavel down, and the following
words bellowed from His lips -- "This man is free -- the penalty for him has
already been paid in full, case dismissed."
As my Lord led me away I could hear Satan ranting and raving, "I won't give up,
I'll win the next one." I asked Jesus as He gave me my instructions where to go
next, "Have you ever lost a case?"
Christ lovingly smiled and said, "Everyone that has come to me and asked Me to
represent them has received the same verdict as you, Paid in Full."
Author Unknown
Jesus Is
God is Lord Almighty, Omnipotent King, Lion of Judah, Rock of Ages, Prince of
Peace, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Provider, Protector, Paternal Leader,
Ruling Lord and Reigning King of all the universe. He is Father, Helper,
Guardian and God. He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End. He is the
keeper of Creation and the Creator of all He keeps.
The Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times. He always was, is,
and will be: Unmoved, Unchanged, Undefeated, and never Undone. He was bruised
and brought healing. He was pierced and eased pain. He was persecuted and
brought freedom. He was dead and brought life. He is risen and brings power. He
reigns and brings Peace. The world can't understand him, the armies can't defeat
Him, the schools can't explain Him, and the leaders can't ignore Him. Herod
couldn't kill Him, the Pharisees couldn't confuse Him, the people couldn't hold
Him! Nero couldn't crush Him. Hitler couldn't silence Him, the New Age can't
replace Him and Ted Turner can't explain Him away!
He is light, love, longevity, and Lord. He is goodness, kindness, gentleness,
and God. He is Holy, Righteous, mighty, powerful, and pure. His ways are right,
His word is eternal, His will is unchanging, and His mind is on me! He is my
redeemer, He is my savior, He is my guide, He is my peace, He is my Joy, He is
my comfort, He is my Lord and He rules my life. I serve Him because His bond is
love, His burden is light, and His goal for me is abundant life. I follow Him
because He is the wisdom of the wise, the power of the powerful, the ancient of
days, the ruler of rulers, the leader of leaders, the overseer of the over
comers, and the sovereign Lord of all that was, is and is to come. And if that
seems impressive to you, try this for size. His goal is a relationship with ME!
He will never leave me, forsake me, mislead me, forget me, overlook me, and
never cancel my appointment in His appointment book!
When I fall, He lifts me up. When I fail, He forgives me. When I am weak, He is
strong. When I am lost, He is The Way. When I am afraid, He is my courage. When
I stumble, He steadies me. When I am hurt, He heals me. When I am broken, He
mends me. When I am blind, He leads me. When I am hungry, He feeds me. When I
face trials, He is with me. When I face persecution, He stills me. When I face
problems, He comforts me. When I face loss, He provides for me. When I face
Death, He carries me Home!
He is everything for everybody, everywhere, every time, and in every way. He is
God, He is faithful, I am His, and He is mine. My Father in heaven can whip the
father of this world, and so, if you're wondering why I feel so secure,
understand this: He said it, and that settles it. God is in control, I am on His
side, and that means all is well with my soul.
Author Unknown
One day, a man went to visit a church. He arrived early, parked his car, and
got out. Another car pulled up near him, and the driver told him, "I always park
there. You took my place!"
The visitor went inside for Sunday School, found an empty seat, and sat down. A
young lady from the church approached him and stated, "That's my seat! You took
my place!"
The visitor was somewhat distressed by this rude welcome, but said nothing.
After Sunday School, the visitor went into the church sanctuary and sat down.
Another member walked up to him and said, "That's where I always sit You took my
place!" The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still said
nothing.
Later, as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the
visitor stood, and his appearance began to change. Horrible scars became visible
on his hands and on his sandaled feet. Someone from the congregation noticed him
and called out, "What happened to you?"
The visitor replied, "I took your place."
Author Unknown
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Author Unknown
The Sting
This is little story told at a funeral recently. It has a play on words about a
"sting" which is vivid in its application:
Once a boy and his father were driving along the road in the family car, when a
bee flew in the window. The boy got very upset when he saw the bee buzzing
around his head, and he began throwing his arms around madly, almost causing an
accident. Maybe you think he was a coward, but that boy was a special case. You
see he was allergic to bee stings! The doctors had told him that if he ever got
stung by a bee again he would die of the sting! So naturally enough the boy was
very frightened of the bee. The father tried to brush it out of the car window,
but couldn't make it go out. So he quickly grabbed the bee! But it escaped, and
buzzed around the boy's head again making him scream with terror this time.
Well, the bee was still in the car, but the father pulled over to the edge of
the road and said to the boy, "It is OK, you are all right." Then he opened his
hand, and there sticking into his palm the boy could see the bee sting! His
father had allowed the bee to sting himself! He had taken the sting out of the
danger. There was no danger about the bee any more.
The pastor told that story to show us all that Jesus Christ has taken the
"sting" out of death itself. He let death "sting" Him instead of ourselves, so
we could live forever and never die. How wonderful. The Bible tells us about
that "sting" being taken out of death by Jesus Christ:
"O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death
is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (I Corinthians 15:55-57)
The sting of death is sin - and the strength of sin is the law. Sin makes us
unable to face a Holy God after we die. We cannot keep God's Law. But Jesus
Christ has fixed that for us, He has given believers the "victory" or made us
winners over death. Praise God, we will never really die when we trust in Jesus
as our Lord.
Author Unknown
The Bird Cage
There once was a man named George Thomas, a pastor in a
small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he
came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird
cage, and set it by the pulpit. Several eyebrows were
raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to
speak.
"I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young
boy coming toward me, swinging this bird cage. On the
bottom of the cage were three little wild birds,
shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and
asked, "What you got there son?"
"Just some old birds," came the reply.
"What are you going to do with them?" I asked.
"I'll take them home and have fun with them. I'm going
to tease them and pull out their feathers to make them
fight. I'm going to have a real good time."
"But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later.
What will you do then?"
"Oh, I got some cats. They like birds. I'll take them to
them."
The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you
want for those birds, son?"
"Huh??!!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister.
They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing -
they ain't even pretty!"
"How much?"
The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and
said, "$10?"
The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten
dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash,
the boy was gone.
The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to
the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy
spot. Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by
softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting
them free.
Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit,
and then the pastor began to tell this story.
One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation.
Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was
gloating and boasting.
"Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down
there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't
resist. Got them all!"
"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked.
"Oh, I'm going to have fun! I'm going to teach them how
to marry and divorce each other. How to hate and abuse
each other. How to drink and smoke and curse. How to
invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really
going to have fun!"
"And what will you do when you get done with them?",
Jesus asked.
"Oh, I'll kill them."
"How much do you want for them?"
"Oh, you don't want those people. They aren't any good.
Why, you take them and they'll just hate you. They'll
spit on you, curse you and kill you!! You don't want
those people!!"
"How much?"
Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your tears, and
all your blood." Jesus paid the price!
The pastor picked up the cage, he opened the door, and
he walked from the pulpit.
For God so loved the world that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him
shall not perish but have eternal life. John
3:16 NIV
Author Unknown