Daisy the dog was, to be honest, a “mutt.” She had no name and no pedigree. Even her name didn’t really belong to her; it was just what the children called her as she roamed about the trailer park where she scavenged for food. Worst of all, Daisy had no license. When the men from the animal control office discovered her, they immediately decided to haul her off to the pound. Poor Daisy! Her short life had been a miserable one, but even that was to be ended. Five days to the gas chamber seemed to be her fate.
But Sherrie, who lived at the park, told the officers from animal control that she would take care of Daisy and find her a home. The men didn’t thank Sherrie for her kindness; they charged her with having an unrestrained pet and gave her a ticket to appear in court.
Not understanding the legal terms on the paper, Sherrie thought it was “just a warning” and forgot about it. What a mistake! A court order is a court order, and instead of officers coming to the park for Daisy, police officers came for Sherrie!
Taken to jail for failing to appear in court, Sherrie spent that night and all the next day in prison. At last a friend paid to bail her out, and Sherrie was free.
And Daisy was still roaming the trailer park and looking for food. Once again the officers had orders to “bring that dog in” and impound it. This time Sherrie would not be able to help.
Sherrie couldn’t, but someone else could and would. Sally drove sixty miles to the trailer park, one day ahead of the officers, and loaded Daisy into her big SUV. Daisy, bony, flea-bitten Daisy, was whisked away to a new life: to a bath and a flea dip, to veterinary care and good food, to a warm bed and a loving owner, to a license and a right to live. Happy, happy Daisy! What a change for her!
And what a change for us, when we receive the Lord Jesus as our Saviour and are rescued by Him from the destruction that is as certain for us as it seemed to be for Daisy.
For a dog, Sherrie went to prison, a friend paid the fine, and Sally came all the way to get her and take her to safety. But for us poor, lost human beings straying around in the world He made, the Lord Jesus came where we were — and far beyond. He went into death and the grave; He paid the entire penalty, and He wants to take us to live with Him in the Father’s house — heaven.
If we were only like Daisy, He could just take us there, but we were created with minds — and wills — of our own. We can say “NO” to God. We can choose the way that leads to hell. We can refuse God’s great salvation. It is hard to understand why!
God’s offer of salvation is free. There are “no strings attached.” All the price has been paid, all the work has been done, and the promise is sure: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” The reverse is equally true: “He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)).