When I volunteered with dog rescue organizations in the past, I was always so sad for the dogs that ended up there because their owner died, or the owner decided to surrender them for whatever reason. Once safe and cared for, these dogs now had to sit on a cement floor in a caged kennel, overcome with uncertainty and new and loud noises – including the incessant barking of other canine residents throughout the facility. I’ve looked into their eyes and could see the fright and the sadness.
I remember one of these dogs especially well. He was a big, elderly basset hound. He cowered in his kennel. He wouldn’t budge, no matter how much we called him and urged him to come and follow us to the play yard. By all appearances, he had given up.
Then, I thought about what I might want if I were similarly feeling rejected, scared, and alone. So, I got on the floor of that kennel and sat quietly with him for several minutes. They were sacred moments when I silently communicated that I wanted to help him. That I wanted to be his friend. That he wasn’t alone, and he didn’t need to give up. That this was a time for new companions, experiences – and even joys!
After several moments passed, I tried again. I called to him and urged him to come out of that cold and dark kennel. And amazingly, he got up and followed me, and he even had a little spring in his step by the time we got to the play yard.
Maybe you’ve faced some difficult circumstances lately, and you feel like you’re alone, in a hopeless place, surrounded by a lot of anxious noise. And maybe you’re ready to give up…
I want you to know that there is Someone sitting in that proverbial dark and cold “kennel” with you. He wants you to know, in this sacred moment, that He cares about you. He loves you! It doesn’t matter if you landed where you are due to poor life choices, or due to matters that were outside of your control. He doesn’t want to just give you a few moments of joy in a “play yard”. He wants you to permanently belong to Him. He wants to bring you home and give you everlasting joy!
Every single one of us was born with a sin nature, due to the rebellion of the first humans, Adam and Eve, against God (see Genesis 2-3). Scripture says we are dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1), and that all have sinned and fall short of His glory (Romans 3:23). Sin separates us from God, the Source of life, and there is nothing we can do to close the gap. We truly are in a dark and hopeless place apart from His presence.
This is why God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to earth. Fully God, Jesus also was fully human (also called the Son of Man). He took on human form to meet us where we are, identify with us in our brokenness, to sit with us, and then to bring spiritual healing and hope to our souls.
“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
He did this by taking our sins upon Himself and putting them to death by offering his life up in our place. As the sinless representative of humanity, He died to remove the power of sin over us and to be the way through whom we can receive forgiveness from God. Jesus also rose from the grave three days later, defeating death and becoming the way through whom we can now receive eternal life.
Unfortunately, many people have misunderstood who God is. They view Him as wanting to condemn and punish, and they decline to come when He calls. But the truth is, His real desire is to save you and set you free. That’s why He sent Jesus!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved” (John 3:16-17).
He does not ask you to do all kinds of tricks or look a certain way to be worthy of His love. He already loves you and wants to give you the blessing of belonging to Him forever.
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).
With Him as your master, you never have to worry about being rejected or surrendered. He will hold you close forever.
If only we could be more like dogs, and run to the God who loves us, without fail.
“For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5).
He’s calling your name right now. Are you ready to follow Him and enter a new and eternal life of blessing that He has promised to you? You, too, just might gain a spring in your step as you look to a brighter future with Him.