I just adopted a dog from the animal rescue league two weekends ago. I was so excited to be able to take in a new dog for our family. We named her Abby. I felt this compassion in my heart for this poor dog, who had been abandoned, rejected, neglected, and given up on by her previous owner. She was actually taken to the pound to be put to death. Why? I can only imagine that maybe she didn't behave well enough, maybe she didn't live up to the owner's expectations, maybe she wasn't cute enough, smart enough, the list could go on. I don't know. But I do know that when I look at her through my eyes, I love this dog with all my heart. She didn't seek me out but I looked for her. I searched for one that I could shower with my love and affection and call my own, even though she has never done a thing for me. When I looked in her eyes and and held out my arms and asked if she wanted to go home with me, wagging her tail and licking my face, she happily said yes. We made our payment to release her ownership to us. And then I rejoiced in my heart that she was mine now, the pound could never take her away again! She rested in my arms and lap all the way home as if to say, finally...I am with the one who truly loves me. God spoke to my heart that this is a parallel to His love for us. We are in need of being rescued. Your previous owner, Sin, wants to send you to your death...the ultimate dog pound...Hell. He makes you think you have a home here, but you find that you can never be good enough, people abandon you, you may feel neglected, rejected, not cute enough, not smart enough, and the list goes on. But did you know that there is a God who desperately longs to rescue you into His family and shower His love on you. He is looking for you, not because you have done anything, but because of His great love and mercy. He made a payment to rescue you through the death and resurrection of Jesus. He paid your dog pound fine so that you would always belong to Him. Now imagine if the end of this story had been different. What if after seeking Abby out, she refused to come to me, turning away, growling, or just indifferent. My heart would break, because all I want to do is rescue her and love her and give her the life she is longing for. I am glad that this is not how the story turned out for Abby. And I am glad that this is not how the story turned out for me. I have realized that I can never be good enough to earn this kind of love. All I could do was come when He called me. And then I curled up in His lap knowing that I am finally home with the One who truly loves me. He took me in, loved me, and gave me the life I have always been longing for.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost." Luke 19:10
