An old man who had no heart for the Lord or concern for his own soul’s welfare, had a good Christian wife. For years she had prayed constantly for her husband’s conversion, but it seemed her prayers were never answered. She could not even get her husband to go with her to the church services.
The good lady had an old dog of which she was very fond and whenever she went to church, her pet would always go along with her. He would go in and lie under her seat and remain perfectly quiet all through the service.
In time the old lady died. The old dog seemed heartbroken, as well as her husband, for he could find no consolation anywhere now that his lifelong companion had passed on.
For several Sundays the old man noticed the dog leave the house at a certain hour and then come back at a certain hour. So one Sunday morning he thought he would follow the devoted animal and find out where he went. The old dog seemed delighted to have his only master now go with him, and happily trotted along until they came to the church door. The old man stopped as the dog bounded up the steps, waiting at the top for his master. After standing a few moments, unable to make up his mind what to do, he said to himself, “I’ll go in to please the dog. It won’t do any harm.” So he went in and sitting down, he listened to the preaching. The next Sunday the old man went again to the church with his faithful friend, and Sunday after Sunday found him at church and the old dog under his wife’s accustomed seat.
Then one morning after the service he arose with tears streaming down his face and opened his heart to God. He told the congregation the story of how the faithful dog had been the means of leading him to Christ. So a faithful God answered his devoted wife’s prayers after all.
Both the old man and the dog have long gone — the old man’s spirit to join his wife’s before the Saviour in that happy land above, and to await the glorious resurrection morning. It is the writer’s earnest hope that this little story may find its way into some home, that some heart will be brought to rejoice in Christ, to whom be all the praise!
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation (judgment); but is passed from death unto life.” John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24).
“The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1: 7.
ML 06/18/1967