I remember hearing about a family dog that fell into an open septic tank while we were working on it. They had opened the lid and were reworking the drainfields or something. Somehow the dog had gotten too close to the freshly piled dirt and fallen into the mud, nastiness and you know what. Chin-deep in stinking disgust at its contents, he couldn’t get out. So the father took the ladder, lowered it into the tank and he came down with everyone watching. After several attempts, he finally grabbed the dog by the scruff of the neck and lifted it over his shoulder and carried it out of this cesspool. As the story progressed, they sprayed it, cleaned it up, and rejoiced in how the dog reacted after being rescued. Can you imagine such a scene? Can you imagine the happiness of being lifted from this stinking abyss of filth? As I read Genesis 3 of God killing something innocent to cover the nakedness of Adam and Eve, I am reminded again that God loves us and I am grateful for what He did to save us! As I read about the devil possessed man in Mark 5, I remember how God got the ladder and lowered it into a septic tank that WE dug and lowered to get us out. This man did not get up to order the dog out. He didn’t just sit there and say, “well, you made it this time, good luck with that.” No sir. I just went to get the ladder! Amen! When I read the Lord Jesus talking about the two debtors who “had nothing to pay”, who, out of mercy, forgave them all their debts! {Glory to God} I remember again and again the merciful love of God to come straight from heaven, into the cesspool itself, to reach out a loving arm and grab a helpless, hopeless dog like me covered in my Fishing; he lifted me up, saved me and washed me! As the old song goes, “Love lifted me up”! Only God could save AND He did. When Jesus stood outside that tomb and called Lazarus from death; when he took the daughter of Jairus who lay dead by the hand and said “Lady, I tell you, arise”! Talk about being saved! Glory to God ! Do not you see it ? A love so wondrous and merciful that he climbs into a cesspool and reaches out to draw you closer and lift you up on his shoulder and carry you away. When I read about the woman with the 12 year old blood issue who came up behind Jesus and grabbed the hem of his garment [Luke 8] and was healed, Lord, it reminds me of that day when I grabbed the hem of his garment! What love! For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life [John 3:16]. I still don’t understand the depth, breadth and extent of this love, but praise the Lord, I know what it’s like to be taken into the hand of God, lifted from sin and condemnation, washed and cured! We invite you to come learn, love and worship God with us at Calvary Baptist Church across from Pizza Hut on the Loop! 903-729-5924. You’ll be glad you did!
Malcolm Harrison is the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Palestine. Find religious services and columns online at calvarybdpalestine.com.
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