“For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.” – 1 Chronicles 16:26

In 1991, the Japanese government sought a way to attract endangered albatrosses to the small Izu islands to breed and reproduce. The Yamashina Institute of Ornithology came up with the idea of placing some 100 wooden albatross decoys in the water to help attract the birds to the islands that are some 375 miles south of Tokyo.

The project for the most part worked well and the endangered birds have landed on the islands and breeding has increased.

But for Deko, a 5-year-old albatross, the experiment went awry. For two years he has been trying to woo what he believes to be the love of his life. He’s built her fancy nests, fought off rival suitors, and spent countless days standing faithfully by her side. But his one-and-only is a man-made decoy — and despite the blank stare and wooden personality, he didn’t catch on.

Institute researcher Fumio Sato worries that Deko’s infatuation with the decoy is keeping him from meeting a mate. “He seems to have no desire to date real birds,” Sato observed.

Too often people begin loving and idolizing things instead of having a relationship with the real God. Today in prayer, thank Jesus that He is a person who wants to have a relationship with us and seek to know Him more every day.

“Idolatry is worshiping anything that ought to be used, or using anything that is meant to be worshiped.” – Augustine

God’s Word: “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” – Exodus 20:4

By Peter Kennedy, Copyright 2005, Devotional E-Mail DEVOTIONS IN THE BOOKS OF SAMUEL, CHRONICLES AND KINGS pkennedy6@yahoo.com