I woke up with a deep sense of anticipation. I had an important meeting at a renowned university that morning, and since I hoped to establish some good contacts at the meeting, I chose my clothes carefully. I didn’t put my tie and suit coat on right away however, but placed them carefully over the top of my dresser until it was time to leave for work. I didn’t want one of our many pet birds to “decorate” them!

Even as I placed them there, I cast a wary eye at the bird cage on the dresser. Rocket, one of our cockatiels, was in isolation in our bedroom due to an upper respiratory infection. But she was securely locked in her cage. Surely my clothes would be safe! And with this thought, I went on downstairs for breakfast.

It took me a good hour to drive to the meeting site in the next town, and once I had arrived, I hurried to the indicated room to deposit my coat and brief case. I was still a few minutes early, but there were already several people ahead of me. I had never met any of them, and I couldn’t help but wonder why none of them came up to greet me! But since finding a restroom was far higher on my list of priorities at the moment than making new contacts, I dismissed this as insignificant. When I got back from my restroom trek, I would simply introduce myself!

Before returning to the meeting room, I decided to check and see if my tie was straight. Imagine my horror to see a brownish-green streak running the length of my tie! “Rocket!” I exclaimed. I had forgotten that my wife was in the habit of letting her fly free in the room every morning! Obviously she had experienced her moments of freedom while I was eating breakfast!

As I cleaned the ugly spot, I couldn’t help but laugh at what the other attendees must have thought of me. No wonder no one was eager to introduce themselves! I carefully buttoned my suit jacket, trying to hide the wet spot by shifting it behind the buttons. Now, instead of a loud tie, my fellow meeting attendees would only be able to admire a crooked tie that was shy about its right side! It worked. As soon as I came back to the meeting room, people came to talk to me. The next time I meet with them, however, I will make sure to wear a turtle neck!

That same evening, Rocket was given another few minutes of freedom in the bedroom, and when my wife went back upstairs to put her to bed, she couldn’t find her! Several minutes later, the errant cockatiel was finally located-perched on top of my tie rack! As far as I was concerned, there were only two choices: Move those ties to a safer location, or move that bird OUT of our bedroom!

It is amazing how one spot of yuck will make you stand out in a crowd. “What a weirdo!” They all cry. “Why is he walking around with bird droppings on his tie?” Yet if EVERYONE were walking around with bird droppings on their tie, nobody would even notice! Sin has the same effect in the universe. Our world is riddled with sin, but since it is so common, hardly anyone notices it anymore. God, however, the One who is pure, notices! “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Rom 3:10-18 NIV)

This is why Jesus came to our planet, to show us the way out! He died so that we could live. He was resurrected on the third day and He shares His resurrection power with all of those who accept His offer of eternal life. “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead.” (Eph 1:18-19 NIV)

He loves you, no matter what kinds of spots are on your tie! He doesn’t even care what kinds of spots are on your Life! He loves you so much that He willingly died for you: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17 NIV)

Friend, those spots can only disappear if you accept His cleansing power in your life. Since He desperately wants you to be His friend, it comes down to two simple choices: “Do I prefer my spots or will I take the risk and let Jesus be my friend?” Making earthly friends always means taking risks. Not so with Jesus! On the cross, He proved Himself to be the truest friend you could ever have. Wow! What an unbelievable love! Will you accept His gift of friendship today?

Tide may be good for ties, but a spot free life is only available through Jesus: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NIV)

Rob Chaffart