Kia 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 Kia were soon almost inseparable. Even running errands for his mother was fun when Kia was along. When he came home from school, Kia was always waiting to meet him. But one day Kia was not waiting when Robbie came home.
“Where’s Kia?” he asked his mother.
“He’s probably curled up in a corner sleeping somewhere,” she replied. “I’m sure he’s around here somewhere.”
When Daddy came home, Robbie still had not found Kia. “Where did you last see him?” he asked Robbie.
“He followed me part way to school this morning. Do you think he could’ve gotten lost and can’t find his way home?”
“We’ll go out and look for him after supper,” his father promised.
But when bedtime came, Kia 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 Kia!
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 Kia straining on a rope that was tied to his collar. Quickly Robbie opened the gate going into the yard and began untying the knot that held Kia.
“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. “That’s just tough; he’s mine now, and don’t try to take him!”
Robbie could hardly keep from crying and he was really scared, but he didn’t want to leave Kia 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. But if he wants to stay with me, then he’s still mine.”
As Robbie ran home to get his money, a question kept racing through his mind — what if Kia had forgotten him? What if he stayed with the other boy? He ran back as fast as he could with his wallet and gave all his money to the boy.
“Okay, mutt, it’s up to you,” said the boy as the knot was untied. With one excited bark Kia raced through the gate to Robbie, jumping all over him, and together they ran home.
“You know, Rob,” said his father, “that reminds me of what the Lord Jesus did for us. We really belong to Him because He made us. But we were lost, just like Kia was and tied up in our sins. But the Lord Jesus loved us so much that He came and paid the price to buy us back. 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 and to be His forever.”
Whenever Robbie thinks of the time that Kia was lost, he remembers that he himself was once a lost sinner, that the Lord Jesus bought him back with a great price, and that now he belongs to Him.
The Lord Jesus saw us in our sin and came down here to redeem us. All who put their trust in Him and accept Him with their hearts as their Saviour 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.” Revelation 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9).
ML-11/17/1985