ONE afternoon as we were coming home from school, we saw a boy sitting on the riverbank with a little dog on his lap. As we came to where the boy sat, we noticed that he had a string tied around the dog’s neck and at the other end there was a big stone tied with a cord. The little fellow was crying bitterly, and every now and then he gave the little dog a hug as he clasped him to his breast. Several of the school boys stood still, but no one liked to ask what was the matter.
At last a man came walking along the river bank, and when he came opposite to where the boy sat with the dog, he stopped. “What are you going to do with the dog, my boy?” he inquired in a kind sympathetic voice.
Bursting afresh into tears, the boy said, “The man I work for sent me to drown him, sir. But I have never drowned a dog in my life, or killed any of God’s creatures, and I can’t do it.”
“Why does he want the dog drowned?” asked the man.
“I think it’s because he has no need for him, and nobody would buy him, sir,” replied the boy, half hoping that the man would in some way relieve him of his unwelcome job.
“Take me to your boss, and we’ll hear what he says. I need a dog, and if he will sell him to me, I will save you this sad work of drowning him,” said the kind gentleman.
The boy wiped his tears away and cut the big stone from the cord. In a moment he was on his way to his boss’ house. The man walked along by his side and we all followed to see the end.
I’m glad to tell you that the dog’s owner was very glad to sell him, so the money was paid over and Hero — for that was the name his new master gave him — was rescued from death, and passed over to his new master, who had redeemed him. He grew up to be a fine useful dog, and for many years he faithfully watched his master’s property.
I often think of this simple incident, and as I do so, the picture rises before me of a more wonderful Deliverer and of a redemption at much higher cost. We were all sinners, “for all have sinned,” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23), condemned to die the sinner’s death, From that just and well-deserved doom, we could not deliver ourselves. But there was One who saw us in our terrible case, and He looked upon us with love. He was rich, yet for our sakes He became poor; He came from heaven down to this earth to where we were. It was Jesus, the Saviour of sinners. He saw us in our ruin; He knew we had “nothing to pay.” Then it was that He Himself paid the price of our ransom, and that price was His own precious blood. He could say, “I have found a ransom.” Now all who believe on Him are set free, from sin and from Satan’s chains, to enter His blessed service, and to own His claims as their Lord and Master.
ML-01/25/1976