1 Dog, 2 Sermons

I received a call from a friend today.  He was very upset, emotion choked his voice as he explained how the new dog he rescued was now at the vet unable to be retrieved.  As responsible, loving owners do-this man took his dog to the vet for a check up only to discover that his dog was not his at all.  This dog had a chip implanted under his skin with the owner's information.  My friend was distraught!

The veterinarian was a responsible man who was doing what was required in contacting the owner.  The owner even promised he would come pick up the animal but he did not come as he promised.  My friend was upset.  The dog was crying for him and he couldn't console the animal. The animal didn't understand, he wanted my friend but couldn't be there.  Of course the vet could not give someone else's property to another person.  It was not his place.  But if the owner didn't return he could relinquish the dog to the public animal shelter for adoption or destruction. 

I asked my friend if he'd be willing to pay either the owner or the shelter for the dog and his reply was full of anguish.  He said, "I want him, I don't care what it costs, I will pay."    At his job earlier in the day a friend tried to console him by pointing out to him that this is exactly what Jesus did for us.  When we were taken captive He rescued us.  Just like my friend would have to go to the pound and retrieve his pet, Jesus went into the ground to pay our debt!  He paid with His life to get us out of the prison sin held us in. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Now what did this dog do to deserve my friend's kindness and devotion?  NOTHING!  The dog wandered into his place of employment and he was starving.  He was skinny and had nothing to offer.  But my friend saw the possibility in this dog and knew that if he fed him and loved him and trained him right that he could be a good dog and he might be good for companionship.  In fact, the burden of how the dog turned out really rested on my friend, not the dog.  All the dog had to do was eat, rest and be obedient.  My friend would provide the housing, the food, the medical attention, the toys and the training-everything!  That includes affection.  Now this poor dog was waiting in a cold and lonely place because of a chip.

Now you might wonder why I chose to tell you this story.  Because a friend and I were discussing things tonight including her recent missions trip.  We talked about how America was very rich compared to the rest of the world and how people who live in sin and don't work and don't intend to hold those of us who do work in a form of slavery.  We talked about how backwards our country is and how it cannot continue-how most people in America are so used to comfort that they will NOT suffer at all if they can help it...blah, blah, blah...Heard all of this before? 

BUT THEN GOD, as He often does, began to speak and brought us back to this little dog.  We began to discuss how God is going to shake the nations very soon to find out who is truly His. "See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens." This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of things that are shaken--that is, things that have been made--in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." Hebrews 12:25-29. 

We began to talk about the mark which many believe is exactly what this dog has implanted under his skin and how it will contain information about who we are-just like this dog's chip.  But not only will it contain information about who we are but information about our health care-replacing the emergency bracelets-and also information about our banking and whatever else they choose to include. It is rumored that pretty soon we won't be able to buy or sell without this mark. Actually that rumor reflects what the scripture says, "Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name.  This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666." Revelation 13:16-18 

You might be okay with going hungry but what about food for your baby? Remember this includes obtaining health care-even emergency health care.  What if you were a diabetic and you knew without medication and a carefully balanced diet you would not probably but certainly suffer at your time of death.  Would you choose to do it? What if you had asthma or congestive heart failure and you couldn't breathe?  Would you take the mark and live and then go to hell and suffer for eternity or would you suffer for the moment and live in eternity forever free of sin and decay and in a body that would know no pain?

Now back to the dog. You see this dog has someone who loves him dearly-who is greatly concerned about his care, who paid for his food and provided a place for him, who loves him and will pay any price for him but who can't have him because of this chip.  This man was almost in tears as he asked me, "Who do I call to find out how long I have to wait until I can go get him?"  And his owner, the one who he belongs to according to the chip, did not show. 

Do you understand that the mark matters?  Just like that dog sits in that vets office, owner clearly defined, waiting to be rescued and loved and cared for, that is what will happen to those who have the mark.  Eventually the vet will have to turn the pet over to the pound and Satan will most certainly let you receive your judgement.  He will know where you are and he will not care.  Satan is not coming to rescue you.  He doesn't care about you.  He hates you.  Once you take that mark you will belong to him and the scriptures say, "And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, , he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." Revelation 14:9-11.

This life is a training ground for the coming end.  We all suffer.  And in the soon coming days we will suffer even more.  Very possibly before the rapture there will be some serious affliction and possibly torture or death of the saints.  We don't know what we will encounter.  But maybe, just maybe God is allowing little annoyances knowing that our faith will be tested.  In fact the scripture tells us, "Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!"

Oh, Precious Ones, it hurts me to think that you may be like that dog waiting for an owner to come who doesn't care about you.  God loves you and loved you SO MUCH that He sent Jesus to pay for your life, to pay the debt of your sins with His own blood!  He longs to give you so much and to allow you to be all you can be because He knows why He made you and what you CAN be.  Please let Him have you life.  Give Him everything just as you are and watch Him make you brand new.  And all you need to do is just what that dog did: eat, rest and obey! Tomorrow is promised to no one and you must decide who you will follow.  The threat is real, the danger is real, the choice is real but more importantly-Jesus is real.  Choose Jesus and choose Him today!

Mercy Abounds loves you.