BARRY was a noble Saint Beard dog. When he was just a pup he was trained to rescue lost travelers in the Swiss mountains. In his lifetime he saved forty lives among the snowy Alps.
In the dog cemetery in Paris stands a monument erected in memory of Barry. His statue may also be seen in the Museum of Natural History in Berne, Switzerland.
One day a traveler in the Alps lost his way in a blinding snowstorm. Tired and hungry he fell down in the deep snow and could not rise again. A blanket of snow soon covered him and he lay there half asleep and half frozen.
In less than an hour he was found by a great Saint Bernard dog. The dog crouched over the half-frozen man and warmed him with his great furry body. The man came to and opening his eyes he saw a package fastened to the dog’s collar. He removed the package and in it he found food and a drink. The man revived.
The next thing was the dog seized the man’s cap and ran off with it to a refuge high up in the Alps where men took care of lost, weary travelers. Soon a rescue party was on its way led by the faithful Saint Bernard. They found the man and carried him to their home where he was nursed back to health and strength.
In the Bible we read that the Lord Jesus came into the world to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)). All around in this world there are those — boys and girls, men and women — who are lost in sin, and perishing. Through His death on the cross and the shedding of His precious blood the Lord Jesus has saved thousands and brought them safe home to heaven.
He is still saving precious souls. Has He saved you, dear reader? Or are you still lost, without hope in this world? The Bible tells us that “It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.” Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27). If you really want to be saved, salvation is near at hand, for a seeking Saviour and a seeking sinner are soon to meet.
May the memory of noble Barry and his friends inspire us who have this wonderful salvation to go out and seek the lost ones and bring them to Jesus, the only Saviour of sinners.
Rescue the perishing,
Care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from
sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one,
Lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus,
the mighty to save.
ML-10/13/1974