My friend, the doctor, was out for his usual morning walk through the park. Down the walk toward him came a lady with her little black dog on a leash. Like most of his kind the little dog greeted the gentleman coming towards him with vigorous wags of his tail. But his tail wagged more vigorously still when the doctor stopped and patted his head and spoke words of praise.
“That is a fine friendly little dog you have there, lady,” he said as he scratched the pup’s fur. “What kind is he?”
The lady by this time had lost her usual reserve, pleased that the gentleman had praised her little pet. She became quite talkative.
“He is a terrier,” she said, and then went on to tell in glowing terms how he was of pedigreed stock and had carried off many ribbons at recent dog shows.
The doctor, who was a Christian, continued to pet the dog and remarked that he felt rather sad when he saw how fond they were of each other. The lady was puzzled at his remark.
“Why would you be sad because I have such a fine dog for my pet?” she asked.
“Well,” he said, “I know you two are very fond of each other, but when the time comes for you to die, you’ll have to leave your dog outside of heaven, for it states very clearly in the Bible that outside are dogs. " (Rev. 22:1515For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie. (Revelation 22:15).) Then taking his Bible he read her the passage.
“Sir,” she returned with great earnestness, “I only wish I knew for sure that I would be in heaven with God. I have never known how I could be sure that after I die I would go to be with the Lord.”
There was a park bench nearby, so the doctor suggested they sit down and talk more about it. She seemed to be in real earnest, wanted to get right with God and glad to have someone whom she could trust and in whom she could confide.
The doctor turned to 1 John 5:1212He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12) and read to her: “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” She had never seen that passage, she said, though she had been to many services at a nearby church and had heard many sermons. No one had ever explained to her the way of salvation or told her how she could get rid of her sins and the constant gnawing sense of guilt.
He explained to her that “The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).) God gives eternal life to every one who trusts in Jesus. He died on the cross for sinners. The Son Himself is that life, and God says, “He that hath the Son hath life"; has it as a present and eternal possession. If she wanted forgiveness, redemption and everlasting life, then she must trust Christ Jesus by faith and accept Him as her Lord and Saviour.
The doctor also called her attention to the scripture: “But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7).)
The lady was quick to understand this precious truth, and her heart was touched. Her soul took a long journey in so short a time that day, for she accepted the message. The darkness of her heart was dispelled in a moment, and the light of heaven shining down from the face of the Saviour was reflected in her happy face. The peace she had sought for years she had found at last.
She seemed to forget all about her little dog for the time, and she exclaimed in her joy, “How wonderful it is to know that I belong to Jesus, He belongs to me and He has cleansed me from my sins. Now I know that I shall live with Him forever.” The doctor rejoiced with her. That was a happy day for both.
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn and sad;
I found in Him a resting place
And He has made me glad.
ML-06/10/1979