Jasmine! What a pretty name! It makes you think of flowers, or perhaps an expensive perfume. It certainly did not suggest the dirty, hungry, shivering little dog who was brought to the Wild Life Sanctuary. But perhaps the workers there looked beyond her circumstances and saw the loving little heart inside. They bathed her and fed her, and she was soon a normal, healthy and happy little dog.
Clean, well fed, cared for, she was not content to be a pet herself, but must pour out kindness and care on other poor, abandoned little creatures. As more and more little homeless animals were brought to the shelter, Jasmine welcomed each one with a loving lick. Now fully grown herself, she would pick up the shivering little newcomer by the scruff of the neck, lift him to a safe place, and then cuddle up with him to keep him warm.
She went on to care for all the baby animals received at the Sanctuary. Although she was a greyhound and might be expected to chase rabbits naturally, she gave them the same gentle and loving care. Fox and badger cubs, rabbits and guinea pigs — all were welcomed and cherished.
It sounds a bit like the Garden of Eden, doesn’t it? But that wonderful garden was soon spoiled. The very first man and woman, who were given that garden to live in and enjoy, chose to obey Satan’s suggestion and disobeyed God. They tried to blame each other for their sin (how very “human” that was!) and then tried to hide from God. So sin was brought into that lovely, perfect garden.
This world has been a place of sin and sorrow and death ever since. But there is a sanctuary for us too. There is the One who has loved us and has come all the way from His home in heaven to save us even by His death on the cross. Now He can take His washed and blood-bought people to His everlasting home to be with Him forever. The Garden on earth was a wonderful place, but sin entered in and ruined it. Sin will never ever enter that glorious home in the heavens.