What a storm it had been! Len Richards, a farmer in Australia, had stayed inside the house during the storm. The wind whipped the trees and roared overhead, but inside his farm house he was warm and dry.
When the rain finally stopped, Len called to his wife Lynn, “I’m going outside to check for storm damage.” Lynn heard the familiar click of the back door closing as her husband stepped outside. Then it was quiet again.
As Len was walking under a tree, a branch damaged by the storm suddenly came crashing down and struck him on the head. He fell to the ground and lay there unconscious. Everyone else was inside the house and did not know what had happened to Len. He was unconscious and in serious trouble, and unless he got medical attention quickly, he would probably die.
We can understand that Len Richard’s injury left him in very serious danger that could take his life. Although they often do not realize it, many boys and girls are in serious danger too. The Bible tells us that “the soul that [sins], it shall die” (Ezekiel 18:44Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die. (Ezekiel 18:4)). All of us have sinned, and ahead of us lies death. You may think that death is a very long way off and that you will live for another sixty or seventy years. Len did not expect that accident. When the branch suddenly struck his head, it was too late to plan his next move. It is important for you to be sure NOW that you are ready for what comes after death. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:22(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2)). If our sins are forgiven, we can be sure that we will be in heaven with the Lord Jesus when our lives here on earth come to an end. Sadly, for those whose sins are not forgiven, the Bible says they will be cast into outer darkness.
Lynn was busy working on the second floor of the house when she heard a commotion. Bang! Bang! Bang! Someone was thumping on the back door. Then she also heard a familiar bark . . . and this time it was a very loud bark.
Lynn ran to the door with her nephew Brendon. Outside she saw the family pet.
Now, our North American readers will expect that the barking had come from a dog. But this was a very special pet. Four years earlier a mother kangaroo had been killed by a car. It left a little baby kangaroo who was blind in one eye. Len and Lynn Richards had felt sorry for that little animal and had hand-reared it from the time it was small. They named her “Lulu.” As she became older, Lulu did not always stay with them. She would disappear to roam freely for a time, but she often came back for a visit. The authorities did not usually allow such a pet in the area where they lived, Tanjil South. But the kangaroo seemed to have “adopted” the Richards family, and because it was partly blind, the authorities allowed this unusual visitor to stay in the area. It was the kangaroo that was barking and making the loud banging noise at the Richards’ door.
As soon as Lynn opened the door, the kangaroo hopped away from her. She continued her loud barking, and Lynn followed anxiously. Lulu led her right to where her unconscious husband was lying on the ground and plunked herself down beside him. Quickly the family called an ambulance, and they rushed the injured farmer to the Melbourne Hospital. “He would have died if he had not been found so quickly,” the ambulance paramedic said.
We do not know what went through the brain of Lulu when she found Len unconscious on the ground. Did she remember the care that Len had given her when she was a tiny animal? Some animals recognize kindness in a person and return it with their affection. But the Bible tells us of Someone who loved us before we cared about Him or knew anything about Him. Many boys and girls do not think about their Creator and grow up unaware of Him or His love. But the Lord Jesus loves each one of us anyway. And His love for us is so great that He left His beautiful home in heaven and came to this world to rescue us from sin. He was willing to go to the cross as our substitute and take the punishment that we deserve for our sins. No other person on earth has ever displayed that kind of love. “God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:88But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)).
After a few days in the hospital, Len was allowed to return home. I am sure he was thankful that Lulu came to his rescue. But how much, much more should we be thankful to the Lord Jesus for loving us enough to save us from our sins. It did not cost Lulu anything to rescue Len Richards, but it cost the Lord Jesus His very life to save us. He suffered terrible pain and was punished by God for sin. Now He offers to forgive our sins and give us His gift of eternal life. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)).
Have you accepted that wonderful gift? If so, have you thanked Him for saving you?
ML-05/23/2004