Dart was his name. I guess we named him that because he was inquisitive, seldom sat still and was always poking his nose into every cranny and hole. He was a black dachshund - long body and short legs. I’ve heard the Germans bred them to chase badgers out of their dens, thus the German name which means “badger hound.”
We had no badgers around so Dart substituted cats, which he delighted to chase. Most cats fled from him, but one was more than his match. He chased it into some tall grass, but soon he came yipping back out with the cat on his back, its tail in the air and its claws in his back. So much for cat chasing . . . for a while.
One early-spring morning, the children and I took a long walk with Dart running on ahead, exploring objects and smells that only dogs are interested in. The ice had not yet fully melted off the ponds. I warned the children that the ice was not safe, “so stay off.”
Just as we were passing a pond that was still half covered by ice, Dart ran out onto the ice. Before I could call him back, the ice gave way, and he fell into the freezing water. His head popped up and he tried to climb back onto the ice. But each time he tried to claw his way out, his paws would slip on the ice and back he would slide into the water. He was too far out for us to reach him, and the ice was too thin for us to think of going out to help him. The children were very upset, afraid they were going to lose their beloved pet.
I suddenly had an idea! I quickly ran around to the other side of the pond and called, “COME, DART!” Dart immediately stopped his frantic attempts to save himself, turned around and swam to me and safety. How happy we were as we dried his cold, wet coat and praised him for obeying my call.
When he was just a puppy, we had trained Dart to obey the word “come,” and it saved his life that day. But there was one person whose obedience could not save Him. It was God the Father’s will that His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, would go to the cross and suffer, bleed and die for lost sinners. Christ obeyed His Father’s will. He says in John 6:3838For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (John 6:38), “I came down from heaven, not to do Mine own will, but the will of Him that sent Me.” Romans 5:1919For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19) explains, “By one man’s [Adam’s] disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [Christ] shall many be made righteous.” Jesus obeyed His Father’s will and went down into the waters of death so that you and I could have our sins washed away in His shed blood.
Dart’s paws were slipping on the ice and he was doomed to die, until he obeyed. And sinners are on slippery ground, but those who hear Christ calling and come to Him to have their sins washed away can say, “He . . . heard my cry. He brought me up also . . . out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock [Christ]” (Psalm 40:1212For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine head: therefore my heart faileth me. (Psalm 40:12)).
But 1 Peter 4:1717For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17) asks a most solemn question: “What shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” What about you? Are you still on slippery ground? or have you planted your feet on Christ, the Rock, who will save you eternally?
ML-09/16/2001