Articles
Red-bellied Woodpecker
R E F L E C T I O N S
Thoughts on nature and the Christian faith
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"No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back
is fit for the kingdom of God.” - Lk. 9:62
This female red-bellied woodpecker was working her way from tree to tree on our property searching for food when I photographed her as she landed on a dead limb and then, for some reason, turned to look back in the direction from which she had come. What piqued her interest I do not know. But whatever it was caused her to leave this limb and fly back to where she was before. Apparently what was behind her held more allure than what was in front of her. Jesus used a farming illustration to warn us of the danger of returning to what we were before we decided to follow him. All of us who claim an allegiance to Jesus to follow him as a disciple need to heed this warning. We came to Jesus by grace through faith, but that faith must validate itself by a changed life. None of us are what we should be, and we all face seasons of weakness, but the general direction of our lives must never get to the point of retreat. If we do go back to where we were before we came to faith, that would be proof positive that the supposed faith we thought we had was no faith at all. Self-delusion can be a very real thing. Scripture tells us to make our calling and election sure, and the way we can gauge that is to be honest about the general direction of our lives. We are not saved by works of obedience, but we are saved to works of obedience. Some run right at the heels of our Lord, others walk further behind, and still others stumble and stagger, dragging themselves forward. I tend to be in the latter group. But it is not the speed at which I travel that assures me, it is the direction. The Christian life can be a struggle, but at its most challenging it is better than returning to what we were. Retreat is not an option. - John
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