Duke was the most wonderful puppy in the whole world. To anyone else he might seem like just an ordinary dog, but to Robbie he was everything. Daddy had brought home the playful black and white puppy for Robbie's eighth birthday and a new world opened up to him.
Robbie and Duke soon were almost inseparable. Even running errands for his mother was fun when Duke was along. When Robbie came home from school, Duke was always waiting to meet him. But one day Duke was not waiting when Robbie came home.
"Where's Duke?" he asked his mother.
"He's probably curled up in a corner sleeping somewhere," she replied. "I'm sure he'll be back soon.”
When Dad came home, Duke still had not returned. "Where did you last see him?" he asked Robbie.
“He followed me part way to school this morning. Do you think he got lost and couldn't find his way home?”
“We'll go out and look for him after supper," his father promised. But when bedtime came, Duke still had not been found, and Robbie cried himself to sleep.
Long, lonesome days followed, and still no trace could be found of the little dog.
“I'm afraid a car has run over him, Rob," his father said. "But never mind, we'll get another puppy for you.”
“Another puppy?" Robbie felt as if his heart would break. There would never be another dog like Duke!
Several weeks later, Robbie was on his way to the store to buy a quart of milk, when suddenly a low whimper caught his attention. Peering through a hedge, he saw Duke straining on a rope that was tied to his collar. Quickly Robbie opened the gate and began untying the knot that held Duke.
“Hey, what do you think you're doing to my dog?" demanded an angry voice.
Robbie looked up and saw a big boy several years older than himself. "This is my dog," answered Robbie. "I lost him a few weeks ago. How did you get him?”
“Since when is he your dog?" sneered the older boy. “He's mine now. Too bad, kid... and don't try to get him.”
Robbie could hardly keep from crying and he was really scared, but he didn't want to leave Duke there. Suddenly he had an idea. "Would you sell him to me?" he asked.
The boy thought for a minute. "How much is he worth to ya?" he asked finally.
“Well, I've only got seven dollars. But I'll give it all to you.”
“Okay, tell you what," said the boy. "You give me the seven dollars, then I'll untie the mutt, and if he wants to go home with you, you can have him. If he wants to stay with me, then he's mine.”
As Robbie ran home to get his money, a question kept racing through his mind: what if Duke had forgotten him? What if he stayed with the other boy? He ran back as fast as he could with his wallet, and gave his seven dollars to the boy.
“Okay, mutt, it's up to you," said the boy as the knot was untied. With one excited bark, Duke raced through the gate to Robbie, jumping all over him. A happy boy and a happy dog ran home.
“You know, Rob," said Dad, "your buying back Duke reminds me of what the Lord Jesus did for us. We were really His because He made us. But we were lost, just like Duke was, and tied tightly by sin. But the Lord Jesus loved us so much that He came to earth and paid the price to redeem us. It cost Him all that He had He gave His life to buy us back. And now, those whom He has purchased with His precious blood, He has set free to follow Him, to be His forever.”
Whenever Robbie thinks of the time that Duke was lost, he remembers that he himself was once a lost sinner, that he was bought with a great price, and that now he belongs to Jesus.
The Lord Jesus saw us in our sin and came down here to redeem us. All who put their trust in Him, accepting Him as their Savior will be among those who in heaven will sing, "Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Rev. 5:9.
“None... can by any means redeem his brother, nor give to God a ransom for him." Psa. 49:7.