It was a warm summer evening and milking time on the farm. The farmer was busy carrying pails of milk from the barn to the milkhouse. The little kittens gathered at the favorite hour to await their share of the abundant supply. The farmer paused and filled a small pan on the floor especially for them. Their little spiked tails pointed in four directions as they surrounded the dish, and their furry tummies grew round and full as they lapped at the warm milk. Mother Puss was out hunting.
In the nearby fields the gophers sat near their burrows or played in the evening sun. Suddenly they all dived for their safety. Alas, it was too late for one little fellow. Something dark and huge suddenly appeared from nowhere, and he was pinned to the earth by great cruel claws. Mother Cat had intercepted him. He squeaked with terror and pain as her teeth closed on the nape of his neck.
Apparently it was not Mother Puss’ intention to kill and eat her victim there. In triumph she headed for the barn. Paralyzed with fear, the little gopher ceased to struggle. The sight of the green fields where he had lived his brief but happy little life faded from his eyes; then he fainted away.
It so happened that on this weekend a friend from the city had paid the farmer a visit. He was in the barn at the very moment when in marched Mother Puss proudly displaying her catch. He watched as she deposited her prize at the feet of one of her little toms, who immediately pounced upon it, biting and growling fiercely. Then in true cat fashion he proceeded to play with it for awhile.
The visitor had a tender heart and loved God’s little creatures, now suffering because of man’s sin. He knew that gophers were no friends of the farmer, that they dug holes in his fields and ate his grain. He knew they were pests and marked to be destroyed. Still he himself had tasted of mercy, for he knew God “who is rich in mercy” (Eph. 2:44But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (Ephesians 2:4)), and he longed to show mercy to that poor little gopher.
With this on his heart, the visitor stooped down to effect the rescue. The kitten growled horribly and its teeth gripped its prey more tightly, determined not to give him up. But strong fingers forced the little jaws open, and moments later the little gopher was lying far from danger on the soft grass outside.
A long while he lay there motionless. Then his little eyes opened on the blue sky above once more. Was it a dream, after the horrible reality of the past hour? At last, a poke from the stranger stirred the little creature to life and action. He got on his feet and started off as fast as he could across the yard in the direction of home — a “saved” little gopher, bruised and bitten—but free!
Now there came into this world a heavenly Stranger, Jesus the Son of God. He saw our desperate case as sinners and looked upon us with pity and love. There was power in that love too, and at all cost to Himself He stooped to save.
The man in our story might have given the farmer a dollar or two to pay the farmer for what the gopher had robbed him of; but all the gold in all the world cannot pay sin’s debt. “Without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)). A spotless victim must die in the sinner’s stead, and Jesus came to take that place. He has answered to God for the sins of all those who trust in Him as their Saviour. He has paid the full debt, and God demands no more. Those who believe in Jesus shall not perish; they have been set free—not to live to themselves, “but unto Him which died for them, and rose again.” 2 Cor. 5:1515And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:15).
How is it with you, dear reader? If you stand before God in your sins it will mean everlasting fire. Jesus is passing by. Now is your opportunity to be saved. Take Him now.
ML-01/16/1977