“If you were to die tonight and you were gaining entry into heaven, what would you say? If you or I answer it in the first person, we’ve immediately gone wrong. “Because I believe.” “Because I have faith.” “Because I have done this.” and so on; Loved ones, the only proper answer is in the third person. “Because He!”
– Alistair Begg
Shortly after my return home from rehab a little over 5 years ago, my wife thought it would be good for me to have another friend around the house to keep me company. So we ended up getting a puppy. And initially I wasn’t sure that this was the greatest idea, but I went along with it. Well… that dog won us over the moment we brought him home, and he’s become such a big part of our family in the years since. The best thing is that he’s never seen me drunk! Praise God!
Early on we decided to not give him any treats, keeping him on a strict diet. At the time we also had a Yorkshire Terrier with digestive issues, so we felt it wouldn’t be fair to give the new dog (Simba) treats and not the older Yorkie. But our beloved Yorkie died a year ago, and so we thought it would be nice to start rewarding Simba with treats for being a good boy. And we even taught him to do some tricks as part of his begging act. He sits, then turns around clockwise (for some reason he doesn’t understand counterclockwise.. he just looks at us with a puzzled look on his face when we try to teach him to turn the other way). Then he will lift his left paw, and when we tell him to speak and he lets out this little “arf” and then he gets his reward.
But the problem now, a year later, is that Simba expects treats all the time, whether he’s been a good boy or bad. And like a father who spoils his children, I always cave. I will even give him a treat when he least deserves it.
In many ways I’m just like Simba. Regardless of whether I’ve been good or bad, I beg God for treats. But God doesn’t require me to sit, turn around, lift my hand and bark for him. No, He dips His hand in that big ‘ol bag of grace and gives me all that I want, forgetting all about my shortcomings or the messes I tend to leave when I think He’s not around. God is an incredibly kind, loving, and forgiving Owner. He doesn’t give me what I deserve, but instead gives me what I absolutely don’t deserve.
So on that day when my time comes to meet Jesus face-to-face, my entry into heaven won’t be based on anything I’ve done; it will be because of what He did for me. May I never try to justify my salvation using first-person point of view.
At the end of the day, even on my best day, I’m just a dog begging for something I least deserve.
Former Blackout Artist 