Ever been skunked? I’m not talking about in a game of volleyball, a round of pool, or a hand of cards? I’m talking about in real life. If not, count yourself blessed. For if you ever are, I assure you that you will never forget it. Let me explain…
Earlier this morning, my daughter-in-law let her pet Weimaraner dog out to do his regular morning business, only to discover when she allowed him back into the house that he had obviously been “skunked”. Literally!
When she readmitted him to the house, he went straight to the pantry, where he greedily consumed his morning breakfast. In the five to ten minutes it took for him to do so, she began to notice that he had a peculiar odor about him. Suddenly, she recognized the smell. It was what we shall call “Ode de’ Skunk!” Obviously, Fido had just had a memorable encounter with “Pepé Le Pew”!
To her credit, as distasteful as it the next hour or so was, my daughter-in-law “manned” up, and immediately took charge of the situation. She opened the windows, loaded the offended party (her dog) into her SUV, and set out for the “doggy day care” in route to work. Upon arrival, she deposited “Fido” with explicit instructions that he was to receive a thorough disinfecting, shampooing, and conditioning. I am proud to announce that he received all three!
Tonight, he sleeps peacefully in his doggy bed, welcomed home to a fumigated and disinfected house without reservation by his owners, and with nary a residue from his unfortunate experience left upon him. I can only hope that, if dogs have any sense of propriety, my son’s dog has a sense of obligation to his owners.
After all, it was he alone who courted disaster by choosing to engage an entity who could taint him so powerfully. Had he not toyed with the skunk, he would never have come off smelling so terribly! In the end, he simply reaped exactly what he had sewed!
The good news for “Fido”, of course, is that even though he found himself so terribly tainted, he was still loved. So much so that he was rescued, cleansed, and restored to his place in their household. And in this little episode we have a clear illustration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For we, too, like my daughter-in-law’s dog, were drawn into an encounter with an entity who tainted us. His name was Satan; and the consequence we bear form that encounter is the stain of sin, with all its terrible stench and disgust.
Yet, even in our foul condition, our Lord did not give up on us. Rather, He sought us out, brought us home into His care, and then took upon Himself the burden and the cost of cleansing our souls! What is more, having redeemed us from our iniquity, He now makes provision for us as members of his household, showering us with nurture and affection.
After his adulterous affair with Bathsheba, Israel’s King David realized just how terrible the stain of his own sin had become. Psalm 51:7 records how, in brokenness, he cried out to God, saying, “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
God heard his cry and answered his prayer. As a result, David found cleansing for his soul and was properly restored to a proper relationship with his Heavenly Father, once again enjoying all of the rights and privileges of just such a state.
What God did for David of old is what God has also done for you and me. I hope you realize this. And I hope as well that you have received the gracious offer of God’s forgiveness and found cleansing from your sin and welcoming into God’s household.
If not, then why not consider your present condition and ask yourself whether this is really how you desire to live your life? If your answer is no, then know that God awaits your decision to turn to Him this very moment. Whosoever will, let him come!
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/nlt/psalms/51.htm.
Earlier this morning, my daughter-in-law let her pet Weimaraner dog out to do his regular morning business, only to discover when she allowed him back into the house that he had obviously been “skunked”. Literally!
When she readmitted him to the house, he went straight to the pantry, where he greedily consumed his morning breakfast. In the five to ten minutes it took for him to do so, she began to notice that he had a peculiar odor about him. Suddenly, she recognized the smell. It was what we shall call “Ode de’ Skunk!” Obviously, Fido had just had a memorable encounter with “Pepé Le Pew”!
To her credit, as distasteful as it the next hour or so was, my daughter-in-law “manned” up, and immediately took charge of the situation. She opened the windows, loaded the offended party (her dog) into her SUV, and set out for the “doggy day care” in route to work. Upon arrival, she deposited “Fido” with explicit instructions that he was to receive a thorough disinfecting, shampooing, and conditioning. I am proud to announce that he received all three!
Tonight, he sleeps peacefully in his doggy bed, welcomed home to a fumigated and disinfected house without reservation by his owners, and with nary a residue from his unfortunate experience left upon him. I can only hope that, if dogs have any sense of propriety, my son’s dog has a sense of obligation to his owners.
After all, it was he alone who courted disaster by choosing to engage an entity who could taint him so powerfully. Had he not toyed with the skunk, he would never have come off smelling so terribly! In the end, he simply reaped exactly what he had sewed!
The good news for “Fido”, of course, is that even though he found himself so terribly tainted, he was still loved. So much so that he was rescued, cleansed, and restored to his place in their household. And in this little episode we have a clear illustration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
For we, too, like my daughter-in-law’s dog, were drawn into an encounter with an entity who tainted us. His name was Satan; and the consequence we bear form that encounter is the stain of sin, with all its terrible stench and disgust.
Yet, even in our foul condition, our Lord did not give up on us. Rather, He sought us out, brought us home into His care, and then took upon Himself the burden and the cost of cleansing our souls! What is more, having redeemed us from our iniquity, He now makes provision for us as members of his household, showering us with nurture and affection.
After his adulterous affair with Bathsheba, Israel’s King David realized just how terrible the stain of his own sin had become. Psalm 51:7 records how, in brokenness, he cried out to God, saying, “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”
God heard his cry and answered his prayer. As a result, David found cleansing for his soul and was properly restored to a proper relationship with his Heavenly Father, once again enjoying all of the rights and privileges of just such a state.
What God did for David of old is what God has also done for you and me. I hope you realize this. And I hope as well that you have received the gracious offer of God’s forgiveness and found cleansing from your sin and welcoming into God’s household.
If not, then why not consider your present condition and ask yourself whether this is really how you desire to live your life? If your answer is no, then know that God awaits your decision to turn to Him this very moment. Whosoever will, let him come!
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: https://biblehub.com/nlt/psalms/51.htm.