The
Birdcage Story
The Birdcage Story
Adapted from a leaflet from Shiloh Church, Landes du Marche
A man was on the side of the road with a large birdcage. A boy noticed
that the cage was full of birds of many kinds. "Where did you get those birds?"
he asked.
"Oh, all over the place," the man replied. "I lure them with crumbs,
pretend I'm their friend then when they are close, I net them and shove them
into my cage."
"And what are you going to do with them now?"
The man grinned, "I'm going to prod them with sticks, and get them really
mad so they fight and kill each other. Those that survive, I will kill. None
will escape."
The boy looked steadily at the man. What made him do such things? He
looked into the cruel, hard eyes. Then he looked at the birds, defenceless,
without hope.
"Can I buy those birds?" the boy asked.
The man hid a smile, aware that he could be on to a good thing if he
played his cards right. "Well," he said hesitantly, "The cage is pretty
expensive, and I spent a lot of time collecting these birds, I'll tell you what
I'll do, I'll let you have the lot, birds, cage and all for ten pounds and that
jacket you're wearing."
The boy paused, ten pounds was all he had, and the jacket was new and
very special, in fact it was his prized possession. Slowly, he took out the ten
pounds and handed it over, then even more slowly he took off his jacket, gave it
one last look then handed that over too.
And then (well, you've guessed it) he opened the door and let the birds
go free.
The Enemy of the world, Satan, was on the side of life's road with a very
large cage. The man coming towards him noticed that it was crammed full of
people of every kind, young, old, from every race and nation. "Where did you get
these people?" the man asked.
"Oh, from all over the world," Satan replied. "I lure them with drink,
drugs, lust, lies, anger, hate, love of money and all manner of things. I
pretend I'm their friend, out to give them a good time, then when I've hooked
them, into the cage they go."
"And what are you going to do with them now?" asked the man.
Satan grinned. "I'm going to prod them, provoke them, get them to hate
and destroy each other; I'll stir up racial hatred, defiance of law and order;
I'll make people bored, lonely, dissatisfied, confused and restless. It's easy.
People will always listen to what I offer them and (what's better) blame God for
the outcome!"
"And then what?" the man asked.
"Those who do not destroy themselves, I will destroy. None will escape
me."
The man stepped forward. "Can I buy these people from you?" he asked.
Satan snarled, "Yes, but it will cost you your life."
So Jesus Christ, the Son of God, paid for your release, your freedom from
Satan's trap, with His own life, on the cross at Calvary. The door is open, and
anyone, whom Satan has deceived and caged, can be set free.