Kelly was the most wonderful puppy in the whole world. To anyone else he might seem like just an ordinary dog, but to Robbie he was everything. Daddy had brought home the playful black and white puppy for Robbie’s eighth birthday, and a new world opened up to him.
Robbie and Kelly were soon almost inseparable. Even running errands for his mother was fun when Kelly was along. When he came home from school, Kelly was always waiting to meet him. But one day Kelly was not waiting when Robbie got home.
“Where’s Kelly?” he asked his mother.
“He’s probably curled up sleeping somewhere in the back,” she replied. “He’s around here somewhere.”
When Daddy came home, Robbie still had not found Kelly. “Where did you last see him?” he asked Robbie.
“He followed me part way to school this morning. Do you think he could’ve gotten lost and can’t find his way home?”
“We’ll go out and look for him after supper,” his father promised.
But when bedtime came, Kelly still had not been found, and Robbie cried himself to sleep. Long, lonesome days followed, and still no trace could be found of the little dog.
“I’m afraid a car has run over him, Rob,” his father said. “But never mind, we’ll get another puppy for you.”
Another puppy? Robbie felt as if his heart would break. There would never be another dog like Kelly!
Several weeks later Robbie was on his way to the store for his mother when suddenly a low whimper caught his attention. Peering through a hedge he saw Kelly straining on a rope that was tied to his collar. Quickly Robbie opened the gate into the yard and began untying the knot that held Kelly.
“Hey, kid, what do you think you’re doin’ to my dog?” demanded an angry voice. Robbie looked up and saw a big boy several years older than himself.
“This is my dog,” answered Robbie. “I lost him a few weeks ago. How did you get him?”
“Since when is he your dog?” sneered the older boy. “He’s mine now, and don’t try to take him!”
Robbie could hardly keep from crying and he was really scared, but he didn’t want to leave Kelly there. Suddenly he had an idea. “Would you sell him to me?” he asked.
The boy thought for a minute. “How much is he worth to ya?” he asked finally.
“I’ve only got seven dollars, but I’ll give it all to you.”
“Okay, tell you what,” said the boy, “You give me the seven dollars. Then I’ll untie the mutt and if he wants to go home with you, you can have him, but if he wants to stay with me, then he’s still mine.”
As Robbie ran home to get his money, questions kept racing through his mind - What if Kelly has forgotten me? What if he stays with the other boy? He ran back as fast as he could with his wallet and gave all his money to the boy.
“Okay, mutt, it’s up to you,” said the boy as the knot was untied. With one excited bark Kelly raced through the gate to Robbie, jumping all over him, and together they ran home.
“You know, Rob,” said his dad, “that reminds me of what the Lord Jesus did for us. We really belong to Him because He made us. But we were lost, just like Kelly was, and tied up in our sins. But the Lord Jesus loves us so much that He came and paid the price to buy us back. It cost Him all that He had - He gave His life to buy us back. And now, those whom He has bought back with His precious blood He has set free to follow Him and to be His forever.”
Whenever Robbie thinks of the time that Kelly was lost, he remembers that he was once a lost sinner that the Lord Jesus bought back with a great price, and that now he belongs to Jesus.
The Lord Jesus saw us in our sins and came down here to redeem us. All who put their trust in Him and accept Him as their Saviour will be included in heaven and will sing, “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” Revelation 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9).
ML-04/04/1993