Bucky was a dog who lived in West Virginia. Although he was a big dog he was gentle with the three children in the family who owned him. He was gentle with the children in the neighborhood, too. Bucky even liked the mailman. He would follow along with the mailman on his rounds, if he could slip out of his collar.
Now it sounds like Bucky was everybody’s friend, doesn’t it? But he wasn’t... and this is what made his family and the neighborhood children so sad last summer.
Bucky had a problem that got him into lots of trouble—he hated cats. You might think that this is normal for a dog. But according to a court judge in Huntington, Bucky would have to die for killing cats.
The judge had listened to several neighbors’ reports that Bucky had killed at least 50 cats, including their own. He also heard from the dog catcher that Bucky was so clever they could not catch him anymore. The judge also listened to reports from Bucky’s owners and friends of what a nice dog he was with people. But the judge decided that Bucky was guilty of killing cats, and he would have to be put to death.
No one wants to hear this terrible sentence pronounced by the Lord Jesus Christ. But if you die in your sins (because you refused to accept Him as your Saviour), you will stand before Him as your judge and hear this sentence.
Bucky had been brought before a judge who found him guilty. For any who want to live in heaven with the Lord Jesus, we must not have any sin. However, all of us have sinned. The Bible says, “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). So how is it possible to get to heaven without our sins? God has provided a way—through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ and the cleansing power of His blood.
God knew we needed a Saviour, and because He loves us so much He sent the Lord Jesus down to this world. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16). He went to Calvary’s cross and was punished (not for His own sins because He was sinless) for the sins of any who would accept Him as their Saviour. Have you asked Him to wash your sins away?
In the end, Bucky did not have to die. Someone who read his story in the newspaper offered to give him a new home where there were no cats living nearby. He moved to another county in West Virginia and became the mascot for a sportsman’s club. He escaped the punishment because of the love and concern of someone else. He was given a “new life.”
We, too, can only escape the punishment our sins deserve by accepting the Lord Jesus as our Saviour. Won’t you accept Him right now? He promises to give you a “new life.”
ML-10/21/1984