Heavenly Treasure

A few weeks ago, I discovered that there are folks who specialize wildlife rehabilitation. I came to find this out after discovering a sickly black eyed junco sitting on my porch. It appeared to be shivering. It was cold outside and the season’s first snowfall dusted the ground. When I went outside to check on the bird, it didn’t fly away, instead it remained on the porch, “shivering.” Something was obviously wrong.

I picked up the junco, surprised at how light she was. I’m not sure what I expected. I knew she wouldn’t weigh much, but I did not expect her to be quite that light. It felt as though I held nothing in my hand but what I held was one of God’s tiny creatures. I placed her in a shoe box with custom made ventilation, aka a scissors hack job. Then not knowing what to do with the frail creature, I looked online, hence the discovery of wildlife rehab folks.

In contacting a lady who specialized in wildlife rehab, I was advised the bird had likely flown into the glass door and was suffering head trauma. So, I brought my little feathered friend to the rehab lady’s home where she would receive treatment free of charge. By the way, the rehab lady informed me the bird was a female black eyed junco. My technical identification of the bird was: a small brown bird, possibly a sparrow.

I’m not sure what became of the bird after that. Perhaps she is flying around outside, back to her happy bird self, or perhaps her collision proved to be deadly.

Why am I telling this story? Well, it is interesting how God uses providence to teach me. When I picked up that bird, I was reminded of God’s care for me. God feeds the birds and he has fed me the bread of life (Matthew 6:26.) How frail and sinful I am, yet he tenderly holds me in his hand. For that, I am very thankful.  

The passages below tell of God’s care of his people.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41: 10

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11-12

For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13

God arranges all providences for our good and faithfully shepherds us, keeping us in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (Romans 8:28, Psalm 23.) He who delivered us, faithfully guards us from the evil trolling in our flesh, the schemes of the devil, and the world which unsuccessfully vie to pull us away from him.

Along the journey of life, are many good gifts from the Lord. The Lord has given all men a portion of beauty, intelligence, skill, wealth, etc. “For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.” Matthew 5:45b. 

Supported by biblical proof texts, the Westminster Shorter Catechism tell us: “Man’s chief end is glorify God, and enjoy him forever.” In our sinfulness, good gifts are misused. They are polished and carved into idols. All of us fall short of enjoying and glorifying God (Romans 3:23.) But the Lord Jesus did not fall short. The incarnate Son of God lived a life marked by perfect obedience and thanksgiving. The two passages below give an account of the Lord’s joy expressed in thanksgiving.

Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish." John 6:11

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Luke 10:21-22

In John 6:11, our Creator gave thanks to his Father as he fed a crowd of over five thousand with two fish and five loaves of bread, multiplied by his hand to fill the bellies of all, with twelve baskets of leftovers to spare. (John 6, Matthew 14:21)

The passage in Luke 10 shows us that the Lord Jesus Christ was thankful for God’s saving grace toward us, knowing it would cost him his life. He willing laid down his life for ours. In unspeakable agony, he bore the wrath of God for our sins as he glorified his father in submission to his will. (Luke 22:42) On the third day, he took up his life again, victorious over the power of death. (John 10:17, Luke 24)

God has given himself to believers. God the Father  "did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all" (Romans 8:23) God the Son paid the penalty for our sins on the cross and he gives us his righteousness. The Holy Spirit washes us and seals us. God gives us faith and calls us to believe, not turning away any who come to the Father in Christ's name (John 6:37.) In 1 Peter 2:9 he tells us: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." He is our God and we are his people. Through Christ, spiritual riches are lavished upon us (Ephesians 1:7-8.)

In his goodness, God has also given us many temporal gifts. A few months ago, I developed a desire to play the violin again; (I used to play many years ago and had since sold my violin.) Soon after I decided I would like to play again, God put a violin in my hands. Now I am fiddling out some beginner tunes including some by Bach, a man who wrote and played beautiful music as he sought God’s glory.

Bach bracketed his music between two short abbreviations. At the beginning of his pieces, he would write JJ, which stands for Jesu Juva, meaning Jesus, help. Bach knew the Lord had given him his gifts and he depended on him to use them. At the close of his pieces he would write SDG, an abbreviation for Soli Deo Gloria, meaning to God be the glory alone.

In his goodness, God also takes away. He gives the fire that melts off our dross. He faithfully molds his clay into the image of his Son. Amidst the good gifts Bach received by the Lord’s hand, Bach experienced much loss. He lost two siblings and both parents as a young boy. After fourteen years of marriage, he was bereaved of his first wife. Ten of his twenty children died in childhood. And few months before his death, Bach suffered greatly in his body. I have included an excerpt from PubMed.gov below which tells of his suffering.

At the age of 64 years, his vision started to decline. Old biographies claim that it was the result of overstressing his vision in poor illumination. By persuasion of his friends, he had his both eyes operated by a travelling British eye surgeon. A cataract couching was performed. After surgery, Bach was totally blind and unable to play an organ, compose or direct choirs and orchestras. He was confined to bed and suffering from immense pain of the eyes and the body. He died <4 months after surgery.

Bach’s story reminds me of Job, a man who experienced immense loss and suffering but was eternally rich in Christ. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Job said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:24b

As Bach went through his pilgrimage, the Lord gave and Lord took away. But there was never a moment where he was not rich in the mercies of God. Bach went home where he now beholds his treasure. The calling and election of God's people is sure. He is our God. We are his people. (2 Peter 1:10, Psalm 95:7)

In closing, I’d like to share an illustration based of my encounter with the junco.

Imagine a glass wall along the journey of life, behind which is an abundance of earthly treasure. Good gifts from the Lord are portrayed as man’s chief end. Food, drink, relationships, riches, beauty, recreation, work, and all manner of temporal enjoyments sparkle in the sunlight enticing those that walk by. The glimmer is so bright and shiny that the glass wall is undetected. Many run at full speed, seeking the treasure before their eyes, only to die upon impact. But the Christian, though he may wander towards the wall, perhaps even bumping his head, is unharmed. In the Light, the glitter dulls.

As the Christian chases danger, his Maker causes him to look to heaven and see his treasure. He beholds a man with scars on his hands and feet, who bore the price of his sin, even this. He weeps as he looks upon the One he loves. Why did he glory in things given rather than the Giver? How could a temporal gift be treasured when he’d been given eternal treasure? He sighs at the coldness in his heart toward his greatest gift-his Savior, Father, Son, and Spirit. He rejoices in the Lord’s mercies, new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23.) His heart overflows with thanksgiving as he delights in the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:4

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4