Driving down a lonely stretch of highway in Utah, I noticed several ground squirrel mounds and quite a few of the little creatures near the road. Some had burrows quite near the road and would scurry down their holes to safety as noisy vehicles passed by.
Others were brave and just stood sentry at their mounds and watched the goings on of the traffic and each other.
Then I noticed one right in the middle of the next lane over from where I was traveling. As I got closer, I noticed it was standing right next to another ground squirrel that was dead: squashed flat! It must have been recently run over, and here was its mate wondering what happened to it that it was not responding. It looked like the live squirrel was standing guard over the dead, not wanting to leave its side. It was standing on its hind legs as though keeping it company and daring anyone to bother it.
That reminds me of the Lord and us sinners. We are “dead in trespasses and sins,” and we had no hope, like the dead squirrel. But we do have Someone wanting to save us from our sins, stand beside us in life, and take us to heaven to be with Him. “You hath He quickened [made alive], who were dead in trespasses and sins” (Eph. 2:11And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (Ephesians 2:1)).
The loyal ground squirrel didn’t want to leave the side of its mate or friend, and likely it was going to suffer the same fate and be run over. Did you know that the Lord notices when even a ground squirrel or small bird dies? “Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father....Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows” (Matt. 10:29,3129Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (Matthew 10:29)
31Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:31)).
There was no hope for the dead squirrel, but there is hope for you. Come to the Lord Jesus and accept Him as your Savior. He is waiting beside you and will save you from your sin and live in your heart. He’ll be a loyal companion and help you all through the rest of your life if you’ll let Him. Then you will be ready to meet Him someday in heaven too! “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Rom. 10:99That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)).