Q&A: Why Did God Make Pigeons?

We are starting again with Q&A. We’re going to get through that Q&A box. Thank you for your awesome questions. We’re going to get to a really important one. The first question that was asked—the one that was next up—was, “Why did God make pigeons?” I don’t know why that was a burning question on somebody’s mind, but I’m glad you asked.

God made pigeons for His own glory. And that’s not a copout answer. That is the answer for why God made everything. In Colossians, it says about Jesus, “All things were created through Him and all things were created for Him.” So Jesus thought of pigeons. Jesus made pigeons and He made them for Himself. And by Your will, it says in Revelation 4:11 of Jesus, “For You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.” So pigeons exist because Jesus wanted them to exist—for God’s glory.

When we hear that answer, I want that to be a reflex for all things. Why is this happening? Why did God make this thing? Well, it’s for His glory. Give Him glory for it.

So I started learning about pigeons. Did you know—this is really cool—pigeons are an amazing demonstration of God’s creative power. Pigeons have iron in their beak. This is nuts. God put iron in pigeons’ beaks. We don’t have iron in our noses or anywhere. We don’t have built-in compasses—most of us. Pigeons have a compass built into their nose. When they fly, they know which way is north, and they can hear these crazy low sounds.

We think that they can actually hear tectonic plates rumbling, and the low rumbling of different parts of the world sounds different. You can take a pigeon a thousand miles away and let it go, and it will fly back home. God, in His wisdom, designed each bird individually and said, “Pigeons—I’m going to put iron in their nose, give them these crazy ears and eyes that look up at the stars and the moon and the sun, and can use all of that, so you drop them and they fly home.” That’s crazy. We should give God glory for that.

I didn’t know that about pigeons, and I’m really grateful for whoever asked this question. Did you know—go to the next slide real fast—this pigeon here, this was during World War II. That pigeon’s name is Winky. He won the Dickin Medal, the highest decoration for animals in military service. Thirty-two different pigeons won this medal in World War II. They saved people’s lives. They would let them go when their ship got sunk or their plane got shot down. The pigeon would fly home and tell them, “Hey, this ship got sunk,” or, “My plane went down.” They’d use them to send messages, like in preparation for D-Day.

Yes, I have a question. Yes, that’s what’s crazy. You just look at these pigeons and think, “You are a waste of an animal.” But they’re not. I could go into more details—pigeons exist for the glory of God.

You didn’t get into the different breeds of pigeons. You’re right—there are some distinctions among pigeons. Some are smarter than others, better at things than others. Honestly, when we think of pigeons, we sort of think of a throwaway animal—the rats of the sky, as we say. But they exist for God’s glory, and His wisdom put them together. We should glorify Him and praise Him for pigeons. This is a good thing for when you are learning about something—don’t just learn it to know a fact to pass a test or show off for your friends, but realize, “This is telling me something about God’s creative power and wisdom,” and then actually go the next step to worship Him for that. If an engineer made something as awesome as a pigeon and you were learning about it, you’d say, “That’s a really smart engineer—good job,” and you’d give him some praise or honor in your heart. How much more should we do that for God?

Your transition, I don’t know if you meant to do this, but I’m going to transition anyway. There are a lot of pigeons that probably aren’t that smart, and a lot that probably look like they’re covered in fleas and are just sort of gross. We think, when they fall to the ground and die, it’s no big deal—it’s just a pigeon. I think another reason why God made pigeons is so that we can trust Him better.

Trusting God: Lessons from Pigeons (Matthew 10:29)

Open your Bible to Matthew 10:29. God made pigeons for His own glory. God made pigeons to save lives of downed World War II pilots. And God made pigeons to help you trust the Lord. This is about sparrows, but I think it applies to pigeons. “Are not two sparrows”—another seemingly inconsequential animal—“sold for a penny?” They’re about the cheapest thing you could think of. And even this small, cheap, inconsequential bird—not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father. Same for pigeons. Every single pigeon, and even the hairs on your own head, are all numbered. That should make you say, “Wow, God, you know all kinds of things. You are really, really powerful, even over the pigeons.”

Jesus makes the next connection—remember last week, someone asked, “How do I know God cares for me, even when I don’t feel it?” Well, look to the pigeons. What’s the next thing? “Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Nothing can happen to you apart from God. A pigeon won’t fall to the ground, neither will a sparrow, apart from your heavenly Father. So, nothing will happen to you apart from your heavenly Father. No matter what scary thing is out there, you have a bigger God, who cares about even the smallest, most inconsequential things. So pray about the small, inconsequential things and trust God.

I hope that from now on, when you see pigeons and all little things, you give God glory, you give Him thanks, and you trust Him. Thanks for that question. I had another one, but I don’t have enough time. So what question are we going to do next week? “Are the books of the Bible inspired, and how do we know our translations are correct?” You’ll have to wait until next week for that question. If you have more questions, drop them in the back. But I am happy to introduce Matt Jarka today.

Introduction to Matt Jarka & On Honoring Leaders

We’ve been learning about God’s Word and how it should affect us. Matt’s going to be bringing us a lesson from Romans 12:1-2. I want you to give him the best listening attention you possibly can. He’s going to talk about the way God, through His Word, needs to make you different. He’s going to give you lots of good examples, lots of good illustrations, and he’s worked really hard on this. I want you to listen.

Just like every time you open the Bible, right? What do we ask? “What did I learn? What does this teach me about God? And how must this affect me?” I want you to go out of here different because you heard God’s Word from Matt. All right, so Matt, come on up, everybody. Let’s give Matt a round of applause. Can we do that? Thank you, Matt, and open your Bibles wherever he tells you. I think you’re going to First Thessalonians first, but then Romans 12. We have note sheets—blank ones this time. Raise your hand for note sheets.

Honoring Leaders (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

Before we get started tonight, I wanted to say a quick word about leaders. While papers are being passed around, I want to say a quick word about your pastor and, by extension, all your leaders here in student ministries. If we are not careful, we’re going to be tempted to take them for granted. If we’re not careful, we’re going to be tempted to resist their care for us because they teach us God’s truth. Sometimes, God’s truth is not very convenient—it hurts because it’s true, and we know that we’re wrong and convicted of our sin. We must not take them for granted, and we must not resist their care for us. In fact, God commands us not to do this.

So, I want you to read this, either in your Bibles or on the screen. It’s that important. Turn in your Bibles to First Thessalonians. If you find yourself in Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, or Colossians, turn to the right. If you’re in the pastoral epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy or Titus, turn to the left. Or just read the screen. First Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 12 and 13:

“But we ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.”

I can’t say everything I want to say about this verse—that’s beyond the scope of tonight—but Paul is exhorting the Thessalonian Christians in their responsibilities as sheep to their shepherds. Pastor Jake is your shepherd. As your pastor and elder—and by extension, all your leaders in student ministries—they faithfully and sacrificially love you. Without doubt, they would not be here if they didn’t. Jacob and your leaders labor for you. They lead you, and they admonish you. Jacob and your leaders already demonstrate their love for you by their deeds. And God, in verse 13, is commanding you to love them in return.

At the end of verse 13, this is your job: students, esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace with one another. They work for God; you are the benefit of that work. You are to love them in return and not resist their care for you.

To each of you leaders, let me have your eyes. On behalf of my wife and all parents, thank you for your love for God, your love for the students, and your labors for them. We’ve benefited from three or four years of high school ministry ourselves. There’s another generation coming, so we thank you. Your labors are not in vain—God sees them, even if nobody else does. Thank you. A simple “thank you” will never be enough. Know that God sees.

Romans 12: Responding to God’s Mercies

Let’s pray. Our merciful God, we are grateful that we can be together tonight to study Your Word. Grant us grace and determination. Grant us ears to hear what Your Word says. Grant us minds to understand what You mean by what You say. And grant us hands and feet to go and do what You say. Father, You know that I need You even in this very moment, and I ask for grace myself. Amen.

Now for our time in the actual scriptures—turn in your Bibles to Romans. We’re going to be looking at Romans chapter 12. I’ll begin reading in Romans 12:1.

“Therefore, I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

These words are Paul’s strategic transition in the book of Romans from doctrine to practice. They mark the shift between what God has revealed about Himself and how believers are to respond with action.

Paul starts this transition with “therefore.” Then Paul refers to the mercies of God—calling attention to all the mercies he’s been declaring from Romans 1 through 11. Consider some of these mercies that are between God and His people—mercies that are free, unconditional, and unmerited. Paul gives us a list of these: faith, grace, love, peace, salvation, glory, honor, justification, kindness, righteousness, propitiation, forgiveness, hope, the Holy Spirit, reconciliation, eternal life, freedom, resurrection, adoption, glorification, and mercy.

As Paul begins chapter 12, he is proclaiming the practices that we as believers owe to God in response to His mercies found in the gospel.

Let me say it this way: the gospel motivates all believers to three practices. I’ll say that again—the gospel motivates all believers to three practices. Note the key word “all.” Why all? God doesn’t say, “If you’re in college and above, I expect you to obey. If not, you get a pass.” If you are a believer, this is what God holds you accountable for. God calls all believers to respond to the gospel with these three practices.

Practice One: Sacrifice

The first practice that all believers are motivated to by the gospel is sacrifice. Look down at chapter 12, verse 1. “Therefore, I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice—living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.”

Paul is using Old Testament language to contrast the outward and physical Old Testament sacrifices in the temple and tabernacle with the inner and figurative sacrifice of the gospel. Under the Old Testament, animals were involuntarily dedicated and presented to God in their death. Under the gospel, believers are called to voluntary dedication and to present themselves to God with their holy lives.

Instead of putting the sacrifice to death as performed by a priest, Paul exhorts believers to present themselves as the sacrifice. Instead of the false worship of God—any worship of our own invention—Paul is exhorting believers to true worship. He describes this as the sacrifice which is living, holy, and pleasing to God.

“Living” is the voluntary act of our will, as opposed to the involuntary death of an animal by another’s will. “Holy” is a life that is undefiled from within—a life without blemish that would otherwise cause the offering to be rejected because it’s defiled. And then, “pleasing to God”—as opposed to the now obsolete sacrificial system of the Old Testament, which is obsolete in Jesus Christ. What is pleasing to God is a holy life, presented to Him in complete obedience, holding nothing back.

Paul declares that our holy lives, presented to God in obedience, is our service of worship. As believers, we are the sacrifice. We do not belong to ourselves. We belong to God. We must daily consecrate ourselves to God.

So, if you are here tonight and you are a believer, you need to ask yourself: Am I living a holy life before God? Am I defiling myself by making any compromises in my obedience to God? Is there anyone or anything more important to me than Jesus Christ?

Practice Two: Disconformity

Paul has begun to exhort that the gospel motivates believers to three practices. We’ve looked at practice number one, which is sacrifice. Now, practice number two: disconformity.

Disconformity is a big word. Look down at the beginning of verse two: “And do not be conformed to this world.” A simple command. The verb in the original language means to fashion, to shape, to pattern, or to mold one thing like another. The verb form here—“do not be conformed”—is passive, imperative, and prohibitive. So this command really means: stop allowing yourselves to be conformed to this world. That’s the closest English translation to the original Greek. Paul is telling that to the believers in the Roman church.

So, what does this look like in real life? I need examples. That’s how God wired my brain. So let me share with you a passage from Daniel chapter 1 that was a huge encouragement and challenge to me when I was in junior high and high school.

Let me read from the book of Daniel about four teenagers—Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord gave Jehoiakim into his hand, along with some of the vessels of the house of God. He brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and put the vessels in the treasury. Then the king said to Ashpenaz, the chief of his officials, to bring in some of the sons of Israel—including some of the royal seed and nobles—youths. That means teenagers. The people we’re reading about in Daniel 1 are teenagers, not sixty-year-olds. They’re not much older, if at all, than you.

These four teenagers were ripped out of their home, brought into Babylon, and commanded to do things. The king appointed for them a daily ration from the king’s food and wine, and that they should be educated three years, at the end of which they were to stand before the king. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah—so there were many more than just these four. Here’s an extraordinary statement in verse 8: “But Daniel set in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king’s food or with the wine he drank.” So he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself. Everyone around Daniel defiled themselves by obeying what the king commanded because it was against God’s law. Daniel set in his own heart not to defile himself.

Daniel said, “I don’t care what the Babylonians are trying to do to change me or break my loyalty to Yahweh. I am going to obey God.” Of all the adults and teenagers brought to Babylon that day, all but four allowed themselves to be conformed to the world—to the commands and expectations of the Babylonians. Only four obeyed God’s law, no matter the cost. They were disobeying the king, but they wanted to obey God instead. God used four obedient teenagers to serve as His ambassadors to the Babylonians when no other adult, and certainly no other teenager, would love or obey God at all.

So, how do we respond to that? What do we take away? We be like Daniel. I wanted to be like Daniel as a junior higher and in high school, and as an adult, I still want to be like Daniel. I don’t want to defile myself. I want to set my heart not to defile myself.

Each of you have a choice to make tonight. Who are you going to obey—God, or the world around you? Like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, each of you are continually bombarded with the world’s pressures to live like they do. Not only do they expect us to live like them, but they mock us if we don’t. Sometimes, they even kill us.

Charlie Kirk was not murdered because he was a Republican; he was murdered because he was an unapologetic Christian who stood for God’s word and would not bow the knee to anyone. He was murdered for it. The world hates people who stand with God’s word.

Consider some of the world’s pressures: treat your parents, brothers, sisters, teachers however you want. Speak however you want. Spend your time however you want. Love yourself, exalt yourself. You don’t need God. You can find happiness in money, things, people, yourself, your own version of truth.

God’s command through Paul—do not be conformed—means stop allowing yourselves to be shaped and patterned like the world.

Practice Three: Transformation

Paul has been exhorting that the gospel motivates believers to three practices. We’ve looked at sacrifice and disconformity. Now, practice three: transformation.

Look again at verse two: “But be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.” The verb for “transform” means to change from one form to another—it’s where we get “metamorphosis.” But here, it’s a continual transformation, not just a one-time change like caterpillar to butterfly. If you’ve ever had your house renovated, it’s a continual renovation—it never stops.

So we have to ask, how does that happen? How am I continually transformed? Paul gives the answer: by the renewing of your mind. The word “renewing” is continual renovation.

So, how do I do that? How am I continually renewed in my mind? God reveals Christ’s word through the Holy Spirit into each believer—through the scriptures. That’s how we are renewed in our minds; it’s the only thing we have to conform us and transform us into the image of Christ.

I need illustrations. The Christian life is like a river that falls. Here’s interactive time: on one end is living sacrifice to God; on the other end is conformity to the world. In between, the key word is choices. Choices lead us to one or the other—we can only be in one place at a time.

God is commanding us to stop allowing ourselves to be conformed to this world but to be continually presenting ourselves as a living sacrifice. So, if I’m standing in this river with flowing water, what do I do? I paddle. If I want to make my way from conformity to the world to living sacrifice to God, I have to paddle—and paddle constantly. If I stop paddling, I get pushed downstream—toward conformity to the world. If I do nothing, I will be conformed to this world. The only way to work hard at being a living sacrifice to God is to paddle—and to paddle constantly.

Students, let me share a very important truth: there is no such thing as coasting in the Christian life. You are going one direction or the other. If you think you can coast, you’re fooling yourselves. I’m not going to sugarcoat it. You are either moving toward living sacrifice or being conformed to this world. There are no other choices.

Let’s look at some real dangers you’re going to face in everyday life: “I’ll just skip God’s Word today because I have too much homework.” Get swept downstream. “I’ll skip God’s Word because sports are too busy.” Downstream. “I’ll skip God’s Word because I want to spend time with friends instead.” Downstream. “I’ll skip God’s Word because I have to beat this level.” Downstream.

There are a thousand things we can choose to make more important than God. We must either paddle or be swept downstream—there are no other choices.

Do you genuinely desire to be transformed? Then you need to be in God’s Word every day. Each of us has a Bible—no excuses. Does your schedule crowd out God’s Word in your life?

Let me be bold: if you’re too busy for God’s Word, you’re too busy. If you’re too busy for God’s Word, you love other things more than God. Don’t try to fool God with your excuses. God knows what’s important to you—and what isn’t. So do whatever it takes to be in God’s Word: set an alarm, ask a parent, sibling, or friend, wear a watch to bed—whatever it takes. This is between you and God.

What’s next? Hold each other accountable. Ask each other, “What did you read in God’s Word today?” Ask, “What is God teaching you by what you read?” Then, “How are you applying this to your life based on what you learned?” It means nothing to just read and check the box. How are we obeying what God’s Word says?

Be like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Grab your friends, bring them close, and set your heart to live a life of worship to God. Set your heart not to defile yourselves in conformity to this world. Set your heart to renew your mind in God’s Word every day.

So, what is the purpose of renewing our minds through His Word? Look again at the end of verse two: Paul gives us the purpose for our continual transformation. “So that you may approve what the will of God is.” What is God’s will? That which is good and pleasing and perfect.

One commentator put it this way: “Good for us, acceptable to God, and that which, being itself perfect, leads to our perfecting.” God’s will is good for us. God’s will is pleasing to Himself. God’s will is perfect and leads to our own perfecting.

Summary and Closing Exhortation

Where do we go from here? What truths apply to us regardless of our circumstances, age, school, sports, friends, hobbies—regardless of anything? Paul has exhorted us through the practices that we owe to God in response to His mercies found in the gospel.

Remember what we said at the beginning: the gospel motivates all believers to three practices. Let me summarize them: our practice before God—sacrifice; our practice before the world—disconformity; our practice toward the Word—transformation.

Finally, there’s one last word. The terms “brothers” and “mercies of God” found in verse one apply only to believers. Those in this room who have not yet turned in faith and repentance to Jesus Christ cannot take mercy from these words, because they are not intended for you. Those who have not turned to God in faith and repentance are enemies of God presently. Instead of mercy, you can only anticipate your own physical, personal, solitary, and eternal torment in the lake of fire at the hands of an angry, holy God who demands justice against His own perfectly righteous standard.

But the good news is that it’s not too late. For every believer here, there was a time when that was us. We stood before a holy God condemned. The good news is that it’s not too late for you, if you have not yet turned to the Lord in faith and repentance. Turn to Him while He may be found. You do not know the hour, the day, or the manner of your death. Do not put off repentance—“Oh, I’ll do it someday when I’m ready, when I’m happy.” No. You must turn in faith to Christ as the only Savior from your sin and your rebellion against a holy God who created you. He owns you. In your rebellion, you think you own yourself, but that’s one of the big lies—you do not own yourself. If you turn yourself in faith and repentance, then you will genuinely receive and enjoy all the mercies of God, to the praise of His glory and grace.

Let’s pray. O merciful God, we thank You for Your mercies that You have given to Your people. We thank You for the good news of salvation that we have heard tonight, that You have given us in Your Word. We pray for those who still need to repent and turn from their rebellion to trust in You. May we, Your people, present ourselves as a living, holy, and pleasing sacrifice. May we not be conformed to this world. May we be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Father, we love You. We are thankful for the work of Jesus Christ in our hearts. We pray in His name, our precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Thanks, Matt. All right, go to your discussion groups.