08/14/2020
As we contemplate the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ, how amazing it is that He did all this for us while we were embracing sin, and covered in the filth of the world. He came to us in His perfection, and we met Him dressed in rags, and filled with unrighteousness. Yet He came, He knocked at our heart’s door, and He waited for us; then He mercifully washed us clean from head to foot, and clothed us in righteous attire. Jesus lovingly prepares us, the lost, to meet His Father.
“but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
One cold February day I hooked my boat up to my truck, and while my wife made preparations for my daughter’s birthday I slipped away to go fishing For a few hours. It had been a stressful week at work, and this calmed me. So I drove to the river, launched my boat, dressed myself in warm coveralls, and began fishing. It was a grey day and bitterly cold. Ice would form on my rod tip as I cast my line, and occasionally I had to dip it into the slightly warmer water to melt it.
I didn’t have much hope of catching fish, but just being there, far from the city, and in the arms of the Lord’s handiwork, was enough. I was floating down a stretch of riverbank that rose up high from the water’s edge, and It made me feel like I was moving through a tunnel when suddenly I heard it... the sound of a dog whining. I listened for a bit, and thought that perhaps a hunter had been out here in the middle of nowhere, injured himself, and his dog wouldn’t leave his side. So I pulled into the bank, tied my boat to the base of a tree, and climbed up the steep bank. There, at the top of the bank beneath some briars was a small brown puppy.
“For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.”
Luke 15:24 ESV
He was shaking, and whining as I picked him up, so I held him close and looked about for his owner, while calling out to anyone who might be near. I finally concluded that he was either lost or abandoned, and since we were in the middle of nowhere, I couldn’t imagine how he came to be here. He looked like a hound dog, but was very small, not much bigger than one hand could hold. He was also malnourished, and filthy, so I knew he would die if left him to the elements. Looking about one last time, I unzipped my coveralls, and tucked him in next to my chest where he could be warmed, and climbed back down to my boat.
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV
In a short while his head popped out next to my neck, and I talked to him as we fished a while longer. He was content to remain there in the warmth, and made no effort to squirm free. So I took him home, fed him, watered him, and my children loved on him... I had a dog. Since then I have often envision God seeing us lost, starving, and near death... just like I saw this puppy, and sending Jesus to rescue us from certain death. In that moment of redemption we too are warmed, fed, watered, bathed, and loved. Yes, our God is Love, and He makes a way for us, even in our sorry state of being, and heals our sinfulness through the efforts of Jesus.
“Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Jeremiah 31:2-3 ESV
Like that puppy on the riverbank we had no obvious redeeming value when we were first saved. We were covered in filth, starved for food and affection, and looked, to all the world, like we were at death’s doorstep.., and yet the God of all creation loved us, and sent His Son to redeem us. To this day whenever I see a dog, or puppy, that has been abandoned, or mistreated, I think of that cold afternoon on the riverbank, and the starving little puppy that I rescued, and how he became a robust and healthy dog. Then I think of my own redemption, and how near death I was when Jesus found me.
““For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your mercy, and grace that saw past my sin, and looked at me through the eyes of love, and kindness. Thank you Lord for sending your Son Jesus into a cold and bleak world to rescue me from death itself. I was lost, and yet you found me, I was starving but you fed me the bread of your Word, and I was covered in the filth of sin, but Jesus washed not only my hands, and face, but my feet... in all of this I am humbled, I love you, and I will follow you all the days of my life. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is merciful, and full of grace. Great are you who knocks, and waits at our door for us to answer. You are our great Lord, and yet you wait on us like a servant. You are our Creator, and yet you treat us as if we were the potter who cast us. Hear our prayers Lord as we humble ourselves before you, and look into our eyes as we love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. May your ears hear our footsteps as we follow after you, and your hand feel the brush of our body as we long for your touch. You are merciful and full of grace, and we are unworthy of your slightest attention... yet you sent your Son for us, and He plucked us from the riverbank of death. Praised be your name for sending Jesus to take us across the flowing water, and to restore us to health so that we would be made worthy through Him, and welcome in your house forevermore.
“And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
1 Corinthians 6:11 ESV
Rich Forbes