NIMROD was a little fat terrier pup with a big bark. Pretty soon he grew so sturdy that his little legs took him around the house, all over the yard and down the lane. He loved to go exploring and whenever his wonderful little nose told him there was a rat around he was all excited.
His master, Uncle Jim, called him Nimrod, the hunter. If you will open your Bible to Genesis chapter 10 you’ll read there about “Nimrod, the mighty hunter.”
Uncle Jim was Nimrod’s hero, and most anywhere Uncle Jim went, you would find Nimrod at his heels.
But a sad day came when Uncle Jim had to go to the Army. Poor Nimrod! For hours at a time he would sit on the low garden wall looking up the lane for Uncle to appear. Three years went by, and bit by bit Nimrod gave up hope. No more did he watch from the wall, but he had not forgotten.
Then one day a neighbor came in with Uncle Jim’s kit bag. What a surprise! His master was coming home. Nimrod was terribly excited, but puzzled too. The kit bag was here, but no master. Grandmother turned the clothes out on the floor to sort them for the wash. Presently she missed the tunic. How could it have vanished that quickly? Then somebody exclaimed, “Why, where’s Nimrod?” Where do you think? — they went to look, and there in his kennel, was Nimrod asleep, the tunic beside him, his head resting on the sleeve.
Soon a well-loved step was heard coming up the walk. Out bounded the faithful little dog and greeted his master with whines and yelps of joy. After three long years they were together once again.
I can’t think of Nimrod and his master without thinking too of a more wonderful story and a more wonderful Friend. Uncle Jim bought Nimrod when he was just a pup. The Lord Jesus bought all those who love Him with His precious blood long, long ago upon the cross of Calvary. Just like Nimrod belonged to Uncle, so those whom the Lord Jesus has redeemed belong to Him. Uncle went away for three years, and the Lord Jesus has been gone for much longer than that, but He is surely coming back again. He has promised “I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” John 14:33And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3). Nimrod wanted to be with his master, and so we ought to want to be with the Lord Jesus where He is. When He comes to claim His own, He will take them to His heavenly home, the house of many mansions. We shall never be parted, but shall be with Him and the objects of His unchanging and eternal love.
“One there is, above all others,
Well deserves the name of Friend;
His is love beyond a brother’s,
Costly, free, and knows no end:
They who once His kindness prove
Find it everlasting love.”
When the soft dews of kindly sleep
My wearied eyelids gently steep,
Be my last thought, how sweet to rest
Forever on my Saviour’s breast!
ML-04/22/1973