Thoughts on Discipleship by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

THE SALT SHAKER AND THE BIRD

Solomon said, “Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.” Prov. 1:17. This verse of scripture brings a childhood story so vividly to mind. It goes like this: as a very young lad, I spent a lot of time with my paternal grandfather who lived next door. (There were a couple of vegetable gardens between the houses) Grandpa observed me attempting in vain to catch a bird. He told me to take his salt shaker and sprinkle some salt on the bird’s tail, and I could catch it with ease. So, I chased the bird with the salt shaker until I tired of it then declared to grandpa that the bird could see the salt shaker, besides that, if I could get close enough to sprinkle salt on his tail, I could catch it without the salt shaker. He smiled a really big, approving smile! I learned that some things are unerringly true in spite of what may appear as true on the unthoughtful surface. To impart such wisdom and instruction that looks far beyond the surface of things was the burden of King Solomon as he penned the awesome book of Proverbs.

The young and inexperienced are taught to be wary of the ways of pseudo-friends whose purpose is to deceive and to destroy. Those who entice others to do evil are not friends at all, but extremely selfish fiends who could care less for the well-being of those whom they entice.Such is the deceitfulness of Satan and his emissaries. The Apostle Paul exposes those whose purpose it is to deceive and destroy in the spiritual realm in 2 Cor. 11:13-15, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

The salt shaker and the bird is a great lesson for the very young, but greater and more important lessons of the spiritual nature remain underscored for all in the age of accountability. If men could achieve righteousness on their own, Christ died in vain. But they cannot. Now just how plainly do you understand God’s Word vs man’s sinful way? “Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird!”

FOR THOUGHT: Has it occurred to you that Satan’s biggest business is deceit through religion? Could you expect any less from the supernatural counterfeiter? Chasing religious promises based on the various teachings of man is vain and exhausting. On the other hand God promises rest for his knowledgeable disciples. What are you following?