The Buzzard, The Bat, And The Bumble Bee

Scripture: 1 John 5: 1-5

Purpose: To share how we can overcome difficult times by focusing on Jesus.

Introduction:

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. 2 This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, 4 for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

Today marks the 4th anniversary of one of our nation most trying times. On September 11 2001 we had our faith shaken, as a nation had to come together if we were to make through the difficult times that were ahead.

As a soldier during this time I was faced with many hardships that I would not have made it through if it were not for my faith in Jesus.

A story emerged as I was in Iraq that I used to illustrate faith. During the initial raid of Baqubah, a town just north of Iraq, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking shelter as quickly as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for his son to follow. Terrified, yet hearing his father’s voice telling him to jump, the boy replied, "I can’t see you!"

The father, looking up against the sky tinted red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son, "But I can see you. Jump!" The boy jumped, because he trusted his father.

The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known.

This morning where are you in your faith? Do you trust Jesus enough to jump without seeing? I think of some of our flying creatures when I think about faith. I received and email a few weeks back that really caught my eye. The Buzzard, The Bat, and The Bumblebee have more in common with us than you may realize.

I. Taking a look at the Buzzard.

1. If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and it is entirely open at the top, the bird in spite of its ability to fly will be an absolute prisoner.

2. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

3. The buzzard allows the pen to be his master and over looks a wide open escape. You who have been, or are a slave to alcohol or tobacco will be master over that when you have faith in God. You have an escape and it is wide open to you. He is the one to deliver you.

4. One time a lady came for prayer to be delivered from smoking but would go back to it time and again. She had to go to the doctor she was so ill. The doctor said she had cancer from smoking too much. Then she got down to business. When you see your sins as God sees them in the light of the bible you will repent or perish.

5. If the doctor says you’re going to have a heart attack, you will get to business with the Lord. That lady did and she lived many years believing God. Why not get down to business now with the Lord, and put your faith in Jesus.

II. How about the Bat

1. The bat flies around at night and is remarkably fragile creature. It is the only mammal on earth that can fly.

2. One major downfall that plagues the bat is that it cannot take off from a level place. If placed on a flat surface all it can do is shuffle about completely helplessly and, no doubt, painfully.

3. The bat needs to reach some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then at once, it takes off like a flash!

4. We too need some slight elevation. Once we have given our lives over to Jesus, He is the elevation that makes us soar to heaven. But many of us go through life, flightless, because we have never given our lives over to the only one that can make us airborne.