Buddy, a pure-bred collie from Budd Lake, New Jersey, was named “Dog Hero of The Year.” Buddy was credited with saving an entire herd of female goats in a raging fire that destroyed a fine dairy farm.
It was one day in January, in the early morning hours, that Buddy frantically barked the alarm of fire. Then rushing into the blazing “maternity barn” Buddy proceeded to lead 70 mother goats out to safety. The brave doggie’s feet were burned and he suffered injury to his nose from the smoke, but he got the goats out unharmed. How thankful were his owners and how proud of their brave pet.
Accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Crinkley, Buddy was taken on a trip to the Palmer House in Chicago to attend a banquet given in his honor. He was awarded a $1000 U.S. bond, a gold medal, a gold plaque, a gold-plated leash and collar, a custom-made dog blanket, and a year’s supply of dog food. We suppose that Buddy scarcely knew what it was all about, and cared less. A good juicy bone would probably have pleased him just as well. He thought no more of what he had done in saving the goats; it was all in the day’s work.
This story of Buddy and the fire made me think of another sacrifice and of another fire. The fire was the wrath of God against my sins. I deserved that judgment but Jesus, God’s dear Son, bore it for me on Calvary, and He set me free. Buddy was scorched, yet he lives to be honored of men; but Jesus died — for me.
“He died for all;
He died for me.
And when He died
He set me free.”
Yes, He died for you too, dear reader! How few honor Him here on earth, and yet God honors Him in heaven. He has “given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,... and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:9, 10, 11. Have you bowed the knee to Him yet? Have you confessed Him as your Lord and Saviour?
ML-08/15/1976