Freed from Prison Bars

Parrot in a Tree

I turned off the highway into our neighborhood like I’ve done a thousand times before, and immediately saw a strange sight.  Several people were just ahead on the side of the street looking up into the top of a tree.  My neighbor had pulled alongside in her car as she must have been just ahead of me.  I slowed down and glanced upward, but didn’t see anything so I kept on driving.  I got out at my house about a hundred yards past them and stepped out to the street.  My neighbor was getting out of her car, so I asked her, “What are they looking at?”

She replied, “Their pet parrot has escaped and flown up into the tree.”

“Oh, no!” I responded.  As we continued to watch, I could hear the strange singing of the parrot that seemed to fit better in a rainforest than in a sweetgum tree in East Texas.  A few moments later, the parrot took flight and flew away to the dismay of the family that watched helplessly.

I couldn’t help but think of the old spiritual that I had heard sung so many times: When the shadows of this life have gone,

                   I’ll fly away;

                   Like a bird from prison bars has flown,

                   I’ll fly away.

                   I’ll fly away, Oh Glory!

                   I’ll fly away (in the morning);

                   To a home on God’s celestial shore,

                   I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away).

For those who have saving faith through Jesus Christ, we know that the best is yet to come.  Christ has promised us beginning in John 11:25; “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die.”

Furthermore, He has won the victory over sin and death through the cross and resurrection.  Don’t be discouraged, but trust in the One who has already won the victory!  One day we’ll be just like the little parrot and we’ll fly away to be with Him who took the nails for us.  Thanks be to God!