Man Saves Dog

TITLE: Man Saves Dog
DATE: February 26, 2019
TEXT: Hebrews 4:16  - ESV - 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
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Everybody has seen the Lassie movies where Timmy (or whomever) says, “Lassie, the house is on fire, get the Fire Department.

We stand in awe as Lassie not only notifies the Firemen, he also shows them a shortcut to the burning home, makes sandwiches and pours everyone a glass of champagne to celebrate the rescue.

Of course, that is the movies. Things don’t always work out that way, do they?

I remember, years ago the story of a man who ventured into a burning home to rescue his dog. In my commentary, I said, “No man would be foolish enough to exchange his life for that of a lowly animal. My premise was it didn’t make sense for the Son of God to offer up His life to save lowly, sinful humanity.

Folks, there have been times when I have been chastised for writing the wrong thing, but that day was something special. I got letters from everywhere telling me:

1. I was nuts
2. I was a dirty cat lover
3. I didn’t understand that dogs were better than people.
4. They would also go in that house and do  the same thing.

Well, folks, I’ve learned my lesson.

That’s why :I’m not going to tell you about how, a few weeks ago,  a faulty space heater set a home in Maine on fire. I’m not going to tell you how one of the residents of the home, 40-year-old Sam Crawford made sure everybody was out, moved some logging equipment to a safe location and then told everyone he was going back inside to find his dog.

I won’t tell you how Sam did go in, and I’m certainly not going to share that he never came out alive. By the time the firefighters arrived the home was completely swallowed up by the flames.

You see, if I told you all those things, like I did years ago, you would probably respond like my listeners did back then.

No, I won’t tell you that story… nor will I tell you about the mother who went back into a burning apartment to find the family’s two cats. I won’t speak about the boy who had to be restrained from re-entering a home to save his gerbils or the girl who wanted to pull her 50-gallon aquarium, with an approximate weight of 600 pounds,  from her burning bedroom.
It doesn’t make any difference what story I tell you are going to say, “I might not go back in to save my mean uncle, but I’d go in to save the animals.”

No, I won’t speak about those things. I will merely say, it made no sense for God’s Son to leave the security and beauty and perfection of heaven and come down to earth where He would be hated, betrayed and nailed to a cross while he carried the sins of the entire world.

Christ’s sacrifice made no logical, human sense, even so, it is what happened..It is what happened because of a Divine quality called “grace.” It is grace which sent Jesus; grace which empowered Him to do all He did; grace which had Him sacrifice Himself and grace which offers us forgiveness and saving faith.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, how is it possible for me to express my appreciation for Your grace? You sacrificed Your Son to save us, and by His sacrifice we are forgiven and saved. May our gratitude move us to live lives which share Your grace with others. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today’s devotion was inspired by various articles, amongst which is the one written by the Editors of Newser and published on February 5, 2019 .  Those who wish may check out this link which was, at the time of writing, fully active: http://www.newser.com/story/270913/he-told-family-he-was-going-back-in-for-dog-ended-up-dead.html

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann, one of my long-ago confirmands. He is singing with three brothers. This song comes from the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html