Animal Rescue
There it was, cowering and hiding, trying desperately to slide further and further under the rusty piece of tin dumped upon the ground, that offered such miniscule cover, not a very good hiding place, but the old heavy chain was pulled out so tight, and that was as far as it would let them withdraw. Kind hands and comforting voices were reaching out, but so unlike the beatings and abuse that they normally and regularly received. Slowly they came out just a wee bit, belly dragging flat on the dry ground, total focus was on the one with outstretched arms right there before them, soon soothing and tender touches were felt, then soothing stroking and petting followed, and it was very strange, yet very nice, and much more was desired, so out they crawled a wee bit more.
Soon they were in a warm and comforting embrace, kind and tender voices all around, then big bold cutters snapped, and the chain fell off, and they were set free. Scooped up in strong compassionate arms, and lifted far above the squalor and refuse which was all that they had ever known as a home, out to a rescue van, and then driven far from that squalid place. Food and water tasted so great, there was lots of it and it was fresh and not like those occasional and moldy and rotten scraps, and all the while tenderness and compassion flooded over them, and the vet check was completed, and apart for semi starvation, and a few festering wounds, they were fine. A nice warm bath felt so good, shampoo and brushes removed ages of dirt and grime, matted fur and the myriads of biting fleas which now finally ceased their endless attacks, and the perpetual and annoying itching was soon no more.
As the days passed to weeks, a new coat of fur covered all the bald patches and those scars, that gaunt boney frame was now covered in health and fitness, the dead eyes were bright and flashing in pure ecstatic joy, and the voice of the rescuer brought out much tail wagging and bounding, and then snuggling in for a petting and a cuddle. The Before and After Photos appeared to be of two totally different animals, before was forever gone into the past, after is forever going forwards, growing from strength to strength, learning new games to play, bounding and running with endless delight, whirling around, and powering full flight back to the rescuer, swirling around them and then speeding out once more, round and round the play continued, exuberant delight, this is a place of endless and abounding tenderness, pure love and compassion, this is a “Real Home.”
This ole world is so much like this story, the heavy chains of sin hold us on a very short leash, we are trapped in this squalor, but this is all we know, roughness and misery, trapped and abused by those around us, this is all we know, but some tiny spark buried deep within us cries out for a much better place, something we know nothing about, some place we wish to experience in a reality. Isaiah 40:28-31 “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, [that] the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? [there is] no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to [them that have] no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew [their] strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; [and] they shall walk, and not faint.”
Quote; “The theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the redeemed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? The infinite love and mercy of Jesus, the sacrifice made in our behalf, calls for the most serious and solemn reflection. We should dwell upon the character of our dear Redeemer and Intercessor. We should meditate upon the mission of him who came to save his people from their sins. As we thus contemplate heavenly themes, our faith and love will grow stronger, and our prayers will be more and more acceptable to God, because they will be more and more mixed with faith and love. They will be intelligent and fervent. There will be more constant confidence in Jesus, and a daily, living experience in his power to save to the utmost all that come unto God by him. As we meditate upon the perfections of the Saviour, we shall desire to be wholly transformed, and renewed in the image of his purity. There will be a hungering and thirsting of soul to become like him whom we adore. The more our thoughts are upon Christ, the more we shall speak of him to others, and represent him to the world. {CE 57}
Revelation 22:1-4 “And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and] yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name [shall be] in their foreheads.” Eternity is offering to us healing leaves, life giving water, life giving fruit – and a new variety every month, so much better than here, and then abundantly so much more.
Revelation 21:1-7 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
We all get the choice of accepting or rejecting Jesus as he comes to us, we can accept rescue, or continue to cower and to growl, to keep God away from us. Acceptance of Salvation means that “All things become New,” and so soon to develop far above and beyond our wildest dreams, why not right now crawl out from under you load of cares, and crawl into the loving and rescuing arms of Jesus Christ.
