Looney Tunes

The servant fell on his knees before him. ‘Be patient with me’, he begged, ‘and I will pay back everything’. The servant’s master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.” (Matthew 18:26-27, NIV)

Looney tunes originally referred to a television cartoon series but this is about a lesson that one special bird – a loon – taught us on the weekend of August 12-13/17. According to a Canadian press report, Don Gibson was camping with his family at Fish Lake Provincial Park in Alberta. Don was standing on the dock when he noticed a loon swimming towards him. He was really surprised since loons normally stay away from humans. As the loon got closer, it was obvious that it was in some trouble and desperately needed help. Don noticed that the bird was entangled with some fishing gear-hooks, wire and a line wrapped several times around one of its legs.


Although he was afraid of the bird’s sharp beak, he eventually got into the water after the loon even allowed him to pat his head. Amazing! That is when Don decided to jump into the water and, with the help of scissors from a park attendant, he and his wife started to cut away the fishing tackle and take the fishing line off the bird’s legs.

After putting the now freed loon back into the water, there was another amazing event. After swimming out to rejoin his fellow loons, this loon turned back, rose into the air and flapped his wings as if it was saying ‘thank you’! It was the loon’s way of singing the praise of humans – you might say a “looney tune”!

I am reminded of a very important story told by Jesus and recorded in Matthew 18:21-35. In the story, a servant or employee of the King is found to be hopeless in debt. His debt was so large that he had no hope to ever repay. Realizing his hopeless condition, he comes into the presence of the king and desperately pleads for mercy. Amazingly, the king does have compassion on him, assumes the cost of the debt himself, and the servant is set free. In the story, the king or employer is God and the servant represents you and me. Apart from God, we are hopeless in the debt of sin leading to death. It is God who has compassion on us and pays the debt of our sin through Jesus’ atoning death on the cross for us and offers a glorious future on the basis of His resurrection!

Are you self-dependent, religious or are you a real Christian? Have you acknowledged that you are spiritually dead with no hope for an eternal future unless you are, like that loon, desperate enough in coming to the one source that you know can deliver you? It is when you and I realize our deepest need that we are willing to totally surrender ourselves to the mighty Savior, Jesus Christ. It is at this point that Jesus can enter your heart and truly set you free, empowering you with a rich meaningful present life and a glorious future for eternity! This new life in you will motivate you to treat others as God has treated you and to daily sing the praises of God who alone can give you hope and life (Matthew 18:33 and 1 Peter 2:9). When you hunger and thirst for righteousness – a right relationship with God, you will be filled (Matthew 5:6)!


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