There was once a man who did not believe in either the virgin
birth of Christ nor the spiritual meaning behind it, and was skeptical even
about God. He and his family lived in a farm community. His wife was a
devout believer and diligently raised her children in the faith. He
sometimes gave her a hard time about her belief and mocked her
religious observances.
"It's all nonsense -- why would God lower himself and become a human
like us? It's such a ridiculous story," he said.
One snowy day, she and the children left for church while he stayed
home. After they had departed, the winds grew stronger and the snow
turned into a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire
for the evening.
Then he heard a loud thump, something hitting against the window...
And, still another thump. He looked outside but could not see anything.
So he ventured outside for a better view. In the field near his house he
saw, of all the strangest things, a flock of geese. They were apparently
flying to look for a warmer area down south, but they had been caught in
the snowstorm. The storm had become too blinding and violent for the
geese to fly or see their way. They were stranded on his farm, with no
food or shelter, unable to do more than flutter their wings and fly in
aimless circles. He had compassion for them and wanted to help them.
He thought to himself, the barn would be a great place for them to stay.
It is warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the
storm. So he opened the barn doors for them.
He waited, watching them, hoping they would notice the open barn and
go inside. Nevertheless, they did not notice the barn or realize what it
could mean for them. He moved closer toward them to get their
attention, but they just moved away from him out of fear.
He went into the house and came back with some bread, broke it up,
and made a bread trail to the barn. They still did not catch on.
Starting to get frustrated, he went over and tried to shoo them toward the
barn. They panicked and scattered into every direction except toward the
barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where there was
warmth, safety, and shelter. Feeling totally frustrated, he exclaimed,
"Why don't they follow me? Can't they see this is the only place where
they can survive the storm? How can I possibly get them into the one
place to save them?"
He thought for a moment and realized that they just would not follow a
human. He said to himself, "How can I possibly save them? The only
way would be for me to become like those geese. If only I could become
like one of them. Then I could save them. They would follow me and I
would lead them to safety."
At that moment, he stopped and considered what he had said. The
words reverberated in his mind: If only I could become like one of them,
then I could save them. Then, at last, he understood God's heart towards
mankind... and he fell on his knees in the snow.
~Author Unknown~
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Related Reading:
Jesus Died For Our Sins- Click Here!
The Matchless Pearl
Jesus Is God
Which Sin Is The Greatest Sin?
Hymn Story: Just As I Am
The Door of Hope For All
Sermon Illustration/Story: "The Son"
A Religion of Four Letters: DONE
birth of Christ nor the spiritual meaning behind it, and was skeptical even
about God. He and his family lived in a farm community. His wife was a
devout believer and diligently raised her children in the faith. He
sometimes gave her a hard time about her belief and mocked her
religious observances.
"It's all nonsense -- why would God lower himself and become a human
like us? It's such a ridiculous story," he said.
One snowy day, she and the children left for church while he stayed
home. After they had departed, the winds grew stronger and the snow
turned into a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire
for the evening.
Then he heard a loud thump, something hitting against the window...
And, still another thump. He looked outside but could not see anything.
So he ventured outside for a better view. In the field near his house he
saw, of all the strangest things, a flock of geese. They were apparently
flying to look for a warmer area down south, but they had been caught in
the snowstorm. The storm had become too blinding and violent for the
geese to fly or see their way. They were stranded on his farm, with no
food or shelter, unable to do more than flutter their wings and fly in
aimless circles. He had compassion for them and wanted to help them.
He thought to himself, the barn would be a great place for them to stay.
It is warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the
storm. So he opened the barn doors for them.
He waited, watching them, hoping they would notice the open barn and
go inside. Nevertheless, they did not notice the barn or realize what it
could mean for them. He moved closer toward them to get their
attention, but they just moved away from him out of fear.
He went into the house and came back with some bread, broke it up,
and made a bread trail to the barn. They still did not catch on.
Starting to get frustrated, he went over and tried to shoo them toward the
barn. They panicked and scattered into every direction except toward the
barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where there was
warmth, safety, and shelter. Feeling totally frustrated, he exclaimed,
"Why don't they follow me? Can't they see this is the only place where
they can survive the storm? How can I possibly get them into the one
place to save them?"
He thought for a moment and realized that they just would not follow a
human. He said to himself, "How can I possibly save them? The only
way would be for me to become like those geese. If only I could become
like one of them. Then I could save them. They would follow me and I
would lead them to safety."
At that moment, he stopped and considered what he had said. The
words reverberated in his mind: If only I could become like one of them,
then I could save them. Then, at last, he understood God's heart towards
mankind... and he fell on his knees in the snow.
~Author Unknown~
John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten
Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the
world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Related Reading:
Jesus Died For Our Sins- Click Here!
The Matchless Pearl
Jesus Is God
Which Sin Is The Greatest Sin?
Hymn Story: Just As I Am
The Door of Hope For All
Sermon Illustration/Story: "The Son"
A Religion of Four Letters: DONE
| The Geese and the Snowstorm |
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