The random thoughts of a Christian parrot
Most parrots like to have a regular routine. We like to know what to expect at different times of the day. It gives a pattern to our lives and it helps us to feel more secure. And I’m sure that a great number of humans feel that way too. Especially as they grow older. We all like to hang on to those things that are familiar and “safe.” I don’t really like it when my owner goes on holiday and somebody new has to look after me. Or when I’m supposed to come out for my playtime at 8.30 am, but for whatever reason, it gets shunted back to later in the morning. And then, what about my favourite perches? Over time, they wear out (probably because I’ve chewed them!) and they have to be replaced by new ones that simply aren’t the same.
The problem for all forms of life here on Earth is that we exist in a state of flux. Nothing stays the same for any length of time. We go from chick (or baby) -to adolescent -to adult -to old age in the blink of an eye.
And then there’s the seasons which last for little more than three months. I just get myself sorted with all of the right feathers, and then I have to moult again!
And what about relationships? We can form incredibly strong bonds with our loved ones, family members and friends, only to see them move away, or ultimately pass away. Like it or not, we are all existing in a physical world of change.
But does change always have to be a bad thing? Because it certainly keeps us all on our toes. And sometimes change is important for our own well-being or the well-being of others. Change can bring us closer to God and closer to Heaven, as the Bible likes to remind us.
In Matthew 18, verse 3, Jesus tells His squabbling disciples that “…..unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of Heaven.”
Although so many of us are desperate to hang on to what we know and love and enjoy, the bottom line is that Life is all about change. We are all meant to “metamorphose” as we go through Life to prepare us for Heaven. We can’t change by standing still or remaining static, or by hanging on to all things physical like limpets. Because our process of change has to be spiritual rather than physical. The time will come when our physical bodies die and turn to dust. We can’t prevent that. But what about our inner part; -our “spiritual essence” that has been shaped and moulded throughout our lifetimes? Do we think about that enough? Because the uncomfortable truth is that we can never find stability and lasting peace by simply going through the motions of life here on Earth. Only God and Jesus Christ can offer us what we yearn for. Peace, stability and a world without change.
Isaiah 26:4 tells us to:
“Trust in the Lord forever. For in God the Lord, we have an everlasting rock.”
And in The New Testament, Hebrews 13:8 reminds us that:
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
In Heaven, there is no such thing as divorce, bereavement, separation, redundancy, financial ruin, illness, or worry about what may or may not be. There is no change there. And there never will be. Heaven is the complete antithesis to all we know and experience here on Earth. And it’s ready and waiting for us. All we have to do is look for it, believe in it, do our best to live a Christian life and accept Jesus Christ as our loving Saviour. It really is as simple as that!
So, as my new lot of feathers start to come through, and irritate and itch, I’m not going to complain. Or when my favourite perch collapses (with me on it), I’ll simply shrug my wings. Because in the overall scheme of things, it really doesn’t matter. I’ll simply focus on what lies ahead.
A world of perfection that can never change, and to which we are all invited…………….