Memory Verse: “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Freddie was a big golden retriever, a strong and beautiful dog. He enjoyed life on a Caribbean island with his owners, Lester and Elaine, and he seemed like one of the family. Everywhere that Elaine went in the house or yard Freddie was right beside her, and no one dared to come near. He considered himself to be her bodyguard, barking and chasing after cows, dogs or workmen who ventured into the yard. Sometimes when it was reported that thieves were stealing oranges from the orange grove, Lester would put Freddie on a long chain and run into the grove with him. When the thieves saw Freddie coming, they would leave their partly filled bags and run, as they knew that Freddie would bite them.
Freddie was not always vicious. When Lester and Elaine had guests they simply told Freddie that these people had come to visit, and the guests were accepted as part of the family for as long as they wanted to stay. When children came to visit, Freddie was happy, as the children always ate plenty of fruit. Freddie loved fruit and would roll his big brown eyes in such a way that the children couldn’t resist giving him a good share of the banana, orange or tangerine that they were eating.
Freddie was a wise dog — he hated those whom he thought might harm his owners, but he loved the guests whom he knew were friends of Lester and Elaine. I wonder if you are as wise as Freddie. Do you hate what your Maker hates and love what He loves? God hates sin, but most men and women, boys and girls love sin. God will make you “wise unto salvation” if you will only come to Him, repent of your sin and accept His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Saviour. “The holy Scriptures... are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15.
The years passed, and Freddie continued to be a brave and faithful friend, but just like humans, Freddie was becoming old, and his health began to fail. Lester and Elaine took him to the vet several times. Each time medicine was prescribed and Freddie got a little better, but his strength was gradually draining away. Some days he was so weak that he hardly moved from his mat under the kitchen table.
Lester and Elaine were very sad about his condition as they had become very fond of Freddie. They knew that Freddie did not have a soul, as you have, and they did not like to see him suffer. So one day they decided to have the vet come and give him an injection that would put him out of his sufferings. When the vet came into the yard, Freddie became very alert, barking at the vet. Lester sadly shook his head. He couldn’t part with Freddie yet and he asked the vet to come back some other day. (Lester and Elaine did not know that Freddie had one more brave thing to do before he died!)
October 25, 1982, was a day like most other days in the Caribbean sunny and warm. It was a Monday and therefore prayer meeting night at the little meeting where Lester and Elaine attended. There was only one thing a little different about this Monday; Freddie was very ill and had to be helped to even get down the stairs that morning.
Elaine watched him with a heavy heart as she did her household chores. She was so concerned about him that she paid little attention to the neighbor who told her that two strange men had been down at the road-crossing looking up the hill at the house most of the day. People often waited at that crossing for buses to take them to the nearest village, so there didn’t seem to be any cause for alarm. However, the neighbor had lived in the area a long time and said she had never seen those men before. She warned Elaine that something didn’t seem just right.
The warning fell on deaf ears; nothing had ever happened before, and there was no reason to think that anything would happen now. Is that how you think about the warnings given in the Bible? If so, you had better be concerned about the warnings that God has given. “Thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1. “Prepare to meet thy God.” Amos 4:12. Are you ready to meet God today?
The neighbor left to go home, and Elaine was busy preparing supper. She had heard Lester go over to the grove for oranges and knew that he would soon be coming in to get ready to go to the prayer meeting. Freddie had eaten his supper and he was back in the house lying under the table watching Elaine. He was not following her around the kitchen as he usually did. Poor Freddie. As Elaine turned to glance at him, her eyes fell on something which startled her—the shadow of a man’s head on the open kitchen door. She softly called, “Lester, is that you?” But there was no reply. She moved quickly to close the door. She got the door almost closed, but as she frantically reached for the bolt she realized that she was just a few seconds too late. A gun was pushed through the crack of the door and was pointed at her head. She silently cried to her heavenly Father for help.
No one was nearby, but Elaine knew that God was watching over her and that He could save her from these wicked men if it were His will. As she stood there alone and helpless, the man suddenly lowered the gun. A shot rang out! Elaine looked down in surprise, and then realized what had happened. Freddie, using all his remaining strength, had rushed out from under the table to attack the two intruders. Freddie lay dead at Elaine’s feet, shot through the neck with the bullet that had been intended for Elaine.
Freddie died in his brave attempt to save Elaine. Do you know that Someone died to save you? The Lord Jesus saw that you were born in sin and could do nothing °to help yourself. Although He hates your sin, He loves you and does not want you to have to suffer the punishment of hell. In love, He gave Himself to die on the cross that His blood might wash away all your sins and save you from eternal death. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. Will you accept Him as your Saviour and someday go to be with Him forever in heaven? What a terrible thing it would be to refuse His wonderful offer of salvation when He has done so much for you. He died that you might live. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. Come to Him right now; tomorrow may be too late.
Next week we’ll learn how the gunmen’s being distracted by Freddie’s attack gave Elaine a few moments to escape.
ML-08/16/1987