IN THE early thirties away out in the Montana sheep country there lived an old sheepherder named Tony. He was a foreigner and might have been the loneliest man in the world had it not been for the companionship of his faithful collie dog, Shep. Tony had had very little schooling and would be considered ignorant by today’s educational standards, but he had a tender heart and was a good shepherd. Once every two or three months he would go away to town and Shep would wait faithfully for his return.
One sheepherder told of how he had dropped in on Tony on one occasion and the old man invited him to dinner. In his hut were two sick lambs and a mother sheep with a sore nose. A rattlesnake had bitten her. Old Tony was in his rocking chair holding the ewe in his arms and rocking her back and forth like a baby.
To Shep there was something special about his master—he was the most wonderful man in the world, and he fairly worshiped him.
But poor Tony had TB and his days were numbered. He wouldn’t go to a doctor and at last the old man died. They took his body into town in a truck and faithful Shep followed them to the railway station. The last sight he had of his beloved master was when they carried his body into the baggage car. Unable to follow further, he watched the train disappear out of sight.
Shep thought his master had gone off on one of his usual trips so he crawled under the station platform to wait for his return. That spot was to be his home for six long years. From there he strolled forth with new hope each time a train pulled into the station.
The dog paid no attention to freight trains, but every time a passenger train came in he would walk slowly the full length of the cars and sniff the air with his nose. When the train steamed out, he settled down sadly to wait for the next.
The kind station master tried to get Shep to make his home in the station, but he refused; he stayed where he could keep an eye on the tracks. Most everybody around knew Shep, and those who traveled the railway would look out the window and wonder about the dog who was always there to greet the passengers when the trains pulled in.
Six years went by; Shep had grown old. Then one wintry day he died. On January 14, 1942 There was a funeral held in the little town of Fort Benton. Stores closed, school children were let out early, the flag hung at half mast; ranchers, sheep-men, wheat growers, railroad men, people from nearby towns including the mayor of Great Falls arrived by train and car. The agent had made a casket, and schoolboys carried Shep to his last resting place on a little hill where the station men had dug a grave. One spoke a few words on “man’s best friend” and Old Shep’s faithfulness. There was hardly a dry eye in the crowd as the casket was lowered into the grave. Old Shep was gone.
Today a monument marks the grave of Shep who, faithful to the last, had lived and waited in hope of his loved master’s return.
In Shep and his master we see love, tenderness and unselfish devotion rarely seen in this selfish world, in the midst of loneliness, sickness and sorrow. Nevertheless long ago there was One who trod this earth and who was the loneliest of men; He was the “Man of sorrows.” and yet He was the true Shepherd. “He came to seek and to save that which was lost,” (Luke 19:1010For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:10)), for all we like sheep had gone astray (Isa. 53:66All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)), were sin-sick, bitten by the serpent, and ready to die. Jesus the Good Shepherd gave His life for the sheep.
Shep’s devotion to his master is but a faint reflection of the deeper and more wonderful love and devotedness of Christ to God His Father. This ought now to be seen in those whom He has redeemed.
Shep’s master, when he died, went to that place from which there is no return but the Lord Jesus has gone to prepare a home for His own, and 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); again, “Surely I come quickly.” Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20).
Dear reader, are you one of His sheep? He loves you, He wants you; He died for you. Trust Him as your Saviour and then you too will be ready when He comes back to take all His own away from this world to be with Him in heaven forever.
ML-04/29/1973