MANY years ago a gentlemen had a favorite horse, which he treated with great kindness, so that the horse became quite fond of his master.
One evening this gentlemen set out on his homeward journey, from a distant place, riding horse-back, and to save about sixteen miles he took a road that was both hilly and difficult.
Snow had fallen heavily, and in some places had drifted into large masses and filled up all the hollow places and blotted out the road altogether, so that little was to be seen but one wide waste of snow.
He had not gone far before he lost all idea of direction, as all the usual landmarks had been covered up.
There was no house in sight, where he might seek shelter, or ask his way. Night was coming on, and he knew that every step his horse took might plunge him into some deep ravine where both horse and rider would be in danger of losing their lives; and that is just what did happen, for as they were going slowly along they came without knowing it to a deep ravine quite filled with snow. Suddenly both horse and rider sank into it to a great depth.
Of course they were instantly buried, and the violence of the plunge took away the rider’s senses, so that he was powerless to do anything.
Now what do you think happened? O, you say, both horse and rider were frozen to death. No, it was not as bad as that, for when the gentleman came to himself he felt something warm on his face, and looking up he found himself lying on his back some yards from the dangerous ravine, and his faithful horse standing over him and licking his face, to warm him back to life.
How he got out of that dreadful hole he never knew, but God has not only given the horse great strength, He has given him what we call instinct, that is, the power of doing the right thing or going in the right direction, when there is nothing really to guide him.
Our friend could only suppose that the horse realized their condition and managed not only to scramble out himself, but, out of love for his master, to drag him out also to a place of safety. There is no doubt but that he owed his life to the fidelity of his horse. Then finding his master did not move or speak, he began to lick his face like a mare may sometimes be seen to lick her colt out of real affection.
Now what are we to learn from this incident? Well, I think there are two things we may learn; first, the helpless condition of the man himself, who must have perished if some power outside himself had not been used on his behalf.
The other point is that love was behind the power that was used in his deliverance.
But I want to show you that by nature that is exactly your condition and mine. We are in the power of sin and death and cannot help ourselves. But God knew how helpless we were, and as sinners we must surely perish. Then He devised a way whereby we might be saved from the result of our sins.
He sent the Lord Jesus, who suffered for us, who bore our sins in His own body on the tree, and if we own Him as our Saviour, if we trust Him as the One who has loved us and died for us, we shall have the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting.
What then is going to be your response to the love of the Lord Jesus? Are you going to say like a gipsy boy once said,
“I return Him many thanks”?
ML 02/20/1927