Last Saturday I was out to eat with 19 or 20 friends after attending a Dave Ramsey Conference. With a party that large, the only area that could accommodate us was outside. It was cool enough and everything seemed fine… at first. As we all found a place to sit around 3 closely situated tables, I noticed directly above me a single branch draped with moss. I was only slightly concerned about the possibility of bark or more likely moss falling into my food. We all ordered, and it wasn’t too terribly long before I had six hot Bar B Que wings placed before me with an extra tray for bones. Very good. We were all talking and eating when I noticed an almost imperceptible blur, felt an ever so slight vibration, and heard a tiny sound that I assumed to be a small stick that may have fallen onto our table. I investigated. What I found in my bone discard tray and on the side of my unsweetened tea made me look up. There on the single branch was the bottom side of a bird and this bird apparently considered my dining area as nothing more than a common toilet!! Not Cool! I’m no hunter, but if I’d have had a shotgun that bird would have met it’s demise for regarding as common my dining location.

It was a bird and I realize that the bird was likely unaware of my presence, but I recalled the incident as we studied Hebrews in Sunday School the next day.

Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

There are many who attend church holiday to holiday, or maybe once a month, or possibly even every Sunday that have heard the good news that Jesus died to take our punishment for sin. What we all really deserve in this day of “gimmie my props” is death as punishment for rebelling against God, yet Jesus who was obedient to God from birth, and through death satisfied the sentence by taking our place. To regard this as a common thing will place you on the day of judgement bowing before God saying Lord, Lord… only to find He never knew you. What a fearful thing.

Bow your head today, ask forgiveness for what you’ve done wrong (lie, cheat, steal, lust, etc.), thank Jesus for taking your punishment, read the Bible and simply do what it says, then praise God for His mercy toward you!