Old dogs

My wife and I have an old dog in the house that has been around long enough to watch all our grandchildren grow up.  She is a very sweet and gentle dog and very patient when it comes to being around kids.  I remember several times she would look up at my wife or myself with big sad puppy eyes, while one of the grandkids was pulling on her ears, or tail or dressing her up like a doll.  She never tried to bite; she just looked sad and put up with it.

Our old dog is getting way up there in years, and has to take several different pain medications each day.  She hates taking the medicine.  I guess she doesn’t like the taste of it or something.  I try to hide it in her food sometimes, and it will work.  Other times she finds it and spits it out.  My wife will try and force the medicine down her throat by placing it in her mouth, holding her head up while holding her mouth shut and rubbing her throat.  The old dog will usually out smart her though.  She acts like she swallowed it, and as soon as my wife lets her go, she spits it out and runs off. 

On the days we can’t get the medicine down her, she can just barely walk around, and yelps in pain at the slightest touch.  The other day, I was thinking to myself, “you stupid dog.  If you would just take your medicine, you wouldn’t be hurting like this.  You’re doing this to yourself.”

I’m sure God looks down on us thinking the same thing.  We run around down here getting ourselves into messes, and full of problems, when all along God has a solution if we would just follow him.  God sent us his beloved son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Christ made a way for us to be forgiven of all our sins, and allow the righteousness of Christ to be on us.

Jesus Christ said in John 10:10 -11   The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:   But by the death of one man, Jesus Christ, grace came upon all men who believe.  Romans 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

God sent Jesus Christ into the world 2000 years ago, so all could be saved, and have a blessed eternal reign with the son of God.  Christ is our medicine for eternal life, and for a blessed and hopeful life down here on the earth.  It’s a shame that the vast majority of people would rather hurt and be miserable, instead of partaking of the medication God has already provided them.

Romans 10: 9-10  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

I Corinthians 15 1-4  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

There is absolutely nothing we can do on our own, to live a holy enough life to merit eternal life with God.  If we accept Christ and believe in him, God will apply the blood of his dear son upon the heavenly alter and cleanse us of all sin, and cloak us with Christ’s righteousness.  This is what we call grace.  It’s only through Christ we can obtain grace.  If you believe in Christ, when you call upon God, he does not see you as sinful man, but sees Christ in you.

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.