The Cardinal's Reminder

A flash of red! Did I imagine it? Cleaning in the bathroom, I had opened the plantation shutters on the window that faced out into the front yard when my eye caught a blur of red. I eased a little closer and peered out – right there nearly in my face was a fat, bright red cardinal perched on a limb in the Camilla bush. I stood still in amazement and he sat for several seconds giving me a good close up look. Nothing brightens my day like a beautiful cardinal. They are just cheerful birds and red happens to be my favorite color.

I know many people consider them bearers of heavenly messages so this sighting prompted me to do a little research on cardinals in the scriptures. In Latin, cardo means hinge; this brought a thought to me. Isn’t Jesus like a hinge, allowing us access to our Heavenly Father? Webster’s dictionary defines the word hinge as a verb meaning to attach or join. Oh boy, through Christ we are joined to God the Father!

I also found references to the red of the cardinal compared to the red blood of Christ, both examples of everlasting vitality. By Jesus’ death on the cross we have that access through His blood. John 3:16 tells us, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Vitality is life and here we have that promise of everlasting vitality.

For me, vitality indicates joy as well. A person with joy in their heart most often lives a life of vitality. So in thinking of everlasting vitality (joy), I go to Psalm 16:11, which says, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”

Wow! That just ties this thought together for me!

The next time you spot a cardinal, remember joy and everlasting vitality are given to us by our Father who loves us so much!