Jean Coleman's Blog - Posts Tagged "dog"
A DOG'S TALE
It's amazing how many spiritual lessons you can come across in the funny papers of the daily newspaper. In a recent comic strip I was reading, the family dog is out in the back yard and has tipped over the garbage can. He has managed somehow to get the lid off and has pulled out all the contents of the can. Rancid food and trash are scattered everywhere and the dog is rapidly devouring every edible tidbit that he comes across.
In the second panel, his mistress spots the mess the dog has made and comes running out of the house in a rage. Shaking her finger at the dog, she gets the message across to Bingo that he is in big bad trouble. The words she is speaking are not recorded, but it is obvious what is being conveyed. "You have been a really bad dog! You know you aren't supposed to eat garbage! Don't you ever let me catch you in the garbage can again!"
The dog hangs his head in shame and with his tail tucked between his legs follows his owner back into the kitchen. He is chastened, but somehow you get the impression that he isn't really repentant. With a scowl, his mistress gets his bowl and a can of dog food out of the cabinet. "This is what you're supposed to eat," she explains in no uncertain terms. "Why would you ever want to eat that smelly old garbage when I pay seventy cents a can for this premium deluxe chunky beef?" She sets the bowl on the floor in front of the dog, continuing her lecture as she fills the bowl with the dog food. "Here! If you're so hungry, then you can eat this!" Turning on her heel, she stomps out of the kitchen leaving the dog with the bowl of food. Bingo sniffs the premium deluxe chunky beef and then lies down next to the bowl with the food untouched.
In the final panel of the comic strip, you are allowed a glimpse of what is going on in the dog's mind. His thoughts are back on the pile of smelly old garbage. You can see him drooling with delight as he imagines feasting on yesterday's leftovers. What a foolish dog!
Yet as I pondered the comic strip, I realized that people can be every bit as foolish as this stubborn dog. Mankind often seems to prefer the garbage of this world to the meat of the word. People choose daily to feed upon a diet of trash when they could be partaking of the Bread of Life. God gives what is necessary for spiritual health and growth, but men and women continue to long for the defilement of the world. They turn up their noses at God's provision which has been purchased at such a great price, and instead lust after x-rated moves, sordid novels, drug trips, sexual immorality, alcoholic binges, alternate lifestyles and abortions. The invitation of the Master to "come and dine" goes unheeded as they indulge in hate, bigotry, greed and pride.
But then, that's the nature of unregenerate man. There's something about man's nature that draws him to things that are corrupt and rotten. That's why we must be born again. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!
In the second panel, his mistress spots the mess the dog has made and comes running out of the house in a rage. Shaking her finger at the dog, she gets the message across to Bingo that he is in big bad trouble. The words she is speaking are not recorded, but it is obvious what is being conveyed. "You have been a really bad dog! You know you aren't supposed to eat garbage! Don't you ever let me catch you in the garbage can again!"
The dog hangs his head in shame and with his tail tucked between his legs follows his owner back into the kitchen. He is chastened, but somehow you get the impression that he isn't really repentant. With a scowl, his mistress gets his bowl and a can of dog food out of the cabinet. "This is what you're supposed to eat," she explains in no uncertain terms. "Why would you ever want to eat that smelly old garbage when I pay seventy cents a can for this premium deluxe chunky beef?" She sets the bowl on the floor in front of the dog, continuing her lecture as she fills the bowl with the dog food. "Here! If you're so hungry, then you can eat this!" Turning on her heel, she stomps out of the kitchen leaving the dog with the bowl of food. Bingo sniffs the premium deluxe chunky beef and then lies down next to the bowl with the food untouched.
In the final panel of the comic strip, you are allowed a glimpse of what is going on in the dog's mind. His thoughts are back on the pile of smelly old garbage. You can see him drooling with delight as he imagines feasting on yesterday's leftovers. What a foolish dog!
Yet as I pondered the comic strip, I realized that people can be every bit as foolish as this stubborn dog. Mankind often seems to prefer the garbage of this world to the meat of the word. People choose daily to feed upon a diet of trash when they could be partaking of the Bread of Life. God gives what is necessary for spiritual health and growth, but men and women continue to long for the defilement of the world. They turn up their noses at God's provision which has been purchased at such a great price, and instead lust after x-rated moves, sordid novels, drug trips, sexual immorality, alcoholic binges, alternate lifestyles and abortions. The invitation of the Master to "come and dine" goes unheeded as they indulge in hate, bigotry, greed and pride.
But then, that's the nature of unregenerate man. There's something about man's nature that draws him to things that are corrupt and rotten. That's why we must be born again. Oh taste and see that the Lord is good!
THE RESCUE
Dog pounds are depressing. We wandered through the rows of cages filled with dogs of every size, shape and description. Each cage bore a large cardboard sign stating the date telling when the dog had been impounded and also the date it would be put to sleep if not claimed. The atmosphere was heavy. It seemed as though even the dogs knew that their chances of survival were slim. Their only hope was that someone would come and pay the price for their release and give them a home. They needed a savior—a deliverer.
We were looking for a companion—a friend. That's really what most people are seeking in a dog. It's a great feeling to come home and find a tail-wagging bundle of fur who thinks you are the greatest person in the whole world. When you think about it, dogs don't actually serve much purpose except to show love and affection. And that's exactly what we were seeking on that cold winter's day at the shelter—a lovable friend.
The dog was sitting in the corner of his cage when we first saw him. Certainly there wasn't much to attract us to this particular dog. He was dirty, his fur was all matted and the dog was so thin you could actually see his ribs. It appeared that the poor thing hadn't eaten a good meal in weeks. But as we approached his cage, the dog stood up and began to enthusiastically wag his tail.
My husband crouched down on the floor next to the cage and held out his hand toward the dog. "Come here, boy," he called gently.
Without hesitation, the dog immediately came over to us. His tongue shot out through the links of the cage and he licked Jack's extended hand with wet signs of his affection. And in that moment he became our dog. He belonged to us. He was called and he was chosen. Our hearts were joined with this unlikely specimen of a dog. I guess you could almost call it love at first sight.
Before we could take the dog home, we had to pay the price to redeem him. Once the seventy-five dollars was paid, the cage was unlocked and he came bounding out into our arms. The dog had once been lost, but now he was found. The dog had a new owner, a new home and even a new name. He became Dennis—our chosen dog. His past was soon to be forgotten and a bright future loomed before him .
It was an exciting moment as we led Dennis into our home for the first time. Our home was now his home and the first item on the agenda was a good bath. When Dennis came out of the tub, he looked like a completely different dog. He was absolutely beautiful and smelled fresh and clean.
Next he was given a big bowl of dog food and some fresh water. "You'll never be hungry or thirsty again," we promised him. "We're going to take good care of you from now on."
When Dennis had finished eating, we put a leather collar around his neck with a tag that clearly stated his name along with our address and phone number. Dennis would never be lost again. He was clearly identified as belonging to us and had our promise of protection.
This is not to say that Dennis didn't still have a lot to learn. The dog had never been housebroken, so it was very important that he quickly learned there were to be no messes inside our house. We also expected him to be obedient to all our commands. Dennis was trained to come when he was called and to stay right next to us when we went out for walks together. A tragic experience with a bedroom slipper taught him that things belonging to his master were to be treated with respect. Words can't express what a wonderful dog Dennis has become or the amount of joy that he has given us over the years. since we brought him home.
And I need to add that Dennis is a very privileged pooch. In the evening he stretches out on the couch between us with his head in my lap. He's our dog now, a part of our family, and we love him very much.
The story of Dennis is a simple parable of salvation that illustrates God's love for lost people. It's a message about the Master who was willing to pay the price to redeem them and make His home their home. How wonderful that the gospel can be expressed in such a way that even a child can understand that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. I'm so glad that when I was lost, Jesus came and paid the price for me.
Chapter 29 Revisited
We were looking for a companion—a friend. That's really what most people are seeking in a dog. It's a great feeling to come home and find a tail-wagging bundle of fur who thinks you are the greatest person in the whole world. When you think about it, dogs don't actually serve much purpose except to show love and affection. And that's exactly what we were seeking on that cold winter's day at the shelter—a lovable friend.
The dog was sitting in the corner of his cage when we first saw him. Certainly there wasn't much to attract us to this particular dog. He was dirty, his fur was all matted and the dog was so thin you could actually see his ribs. It appeared that the poor thing hadn't eaten a good meal in weeks. But as we approached his cage, the dog stood up and began to enthusiastically wag his tail.
My husband crouched down on the floor next to the cage and held out his hand toward the dog. "Come here, boy," he called gently.
Without hesitation, the dog immediately came over to us. His tongue shot out through the links of the cage and he licked Jack's extended hand with wet signs of his affection. And in that moment he became our dog. He belonged to us. He was called and he was chosen. Our hearts were joined with this unlikely specimen of a dog. I guess you could almost call it love at first sight.
Before we could take the dog home, we had to pay the price to redeem him. Once the seventy-five dollars was paid, the cage was unlocked and he came bounding out into our arms. The dog had once been lost, but now he was found. The dog had a new owner, a new home and even a new name. He became Dennis—our chosen dog. His past was soon to be forgotten and a bright future loomed before him .
It was an exciting moment as we led Dennis into our home for the first time. Our home was now his home and the first item on the agenda was a good bath. When Dennis came out of the tub, he looked like a completely different dog. He was absolutely beautiful and smelled fresh and clean.
Next he was given a big bowl of dog food and some fresh water. "You'll never be hungry or thirsty again," we promised him. "We're going to take good care of you from now on."
When Dennis had finished eating, we put a leather collar around his neck with a tag that clearly stated his name along with our address and phone number. Dennis would never be lost again. He was clearly identified as belonging to us and had our promise of protection.
This is not to say that Dennis didn't still have a lot to learn. The dog had never been housebroken, so it was very important that he quickly learned there were to be no messes inside our house. We also expected him to be obedient to all our commands. Dennis was trained to come when he was called and to stay right next to us when we went out for walks together. A tragic experience with a bedroom slipper taught him that things belonging to his master were to be treated with respect. Words can't express what a wonderful dog Dennis has become or the amount of joy that he has given us over the years. since we brought him home.
And I need to add that Dennis is a very privileged pooch. In the evening he stretches out on the couch between us with his head in my lap. He's our dog now, a part of our family, and we love him very much.
The story of Dennis is a simple parable of salvation that illustrates God's love for lost people. It's a message about the Master who was willing to pay the price to redeem them and make His home their home. How wonderful that the gospel can be expressed in such a way that even a child can understand that Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. I'm so glad that when I was lost, Jesus came and paid the price for me.
Chapter 29 Revisited
