A missionary and his wife from Venezuela visited us one day and told us this interesting story.
Once when they were in the deep part of the jungle, they met a hunter who had with him the skin of a leopard. The hunter told them he had recently been out hunting with his dog when they came upon the trail of a leopard. The leopard disappeared into a hole in a huge pile of stones, and the dog went in after him. He could tell from the dog’s yelps that he was pinned down by the leopard’s powerful paws. To save the life of his dog, the hunter, with his knife in his teeth, crawled into the dark hole underneath that pile of stones. He found the spot where the leopard was hiding, and he killed it all alone. After the hunter finished telling his story, the missionary bought the leopard’s skin from him and brought it home.
That hunter saved the life of his dog at the risk of losing his own! This is just a little picture of the Lord Jesus going into death on the cross to save you and me from the grip of that roaring lion, the devil.
The Lord Jesus went down into the very jaws of death to set us free. It was our sins that took Him there, for “the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23). Such was His love for sinners, even though He, the holy, spotless Son of God, could have gone back to heaven without dying, yet He would not turn back from going to the cross. He laid down His life that we might have everlasting life instead of everlasting death. Now “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
The poor dog in our story was hopelessly trapped. No doubt it was his whines and howls of distress that brought his faithful master to his rescue in that dangerous hole in the rocks. But if you are without Christ, you are in a far worse state, for you are still under Satan’s power. Because of your sins, death and punishment stare you in the face. What the Lord Jesus wants to hear is your cry of faith, like Peter in the Bible, “Lord, save me,” and He will save you in a moment’s time. “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:1313For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:13).
ML-11/14/1982