There is no king saved by the multitude of a host; a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. A horse is a vain thing for safety; neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.

Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear Him, that hope in His mercy: To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine. Our soul waiteth for the LORD: He is our help and shield.

Psalms 33:16-20, KJV

 

 

 

I was about nineteen when it happened. I was coming home from a camping trip at a little place between Rifle and Craig Colorado. There was a public access via a heavily rutted, dirt road that I had explored along Cow Creek (maybe it was Cattle Creek). I had found a turnoff marked "Waterhole No. 19" and it overlooked one of the most peaceful valleys you have ever seen. I learned several things on that trip. First, never store food in the tent you are sleeping in when in bear country. Second, never ring a campfire with oil shale - even if it does look like a harmless, ordinary rock. And third, bees like the color red and I had a red car.

 

But these are all stories for another day, because it was an incident at a rest stop in Wyoming that I wanted to tell you about. I knew better than to stop when there were no other cars around at rest stops, but I was tired and such rest stops, not to mention towns with stores, were few and far between in Wyoming, so I stopped. When I got inside their were two other young men already there. Where the came from I couldn't say, but there they were. And they looked like trouble to me, so I got out as quickly as possible.

 

They followed me out.

 

They asked me if I could give them a ride but when I told them I didn't have room they weren't very pleased. At this point they very meaningfully (and with no uncertain amount of specificity) me let know that I was, indeed going to give them a ride. I have to admit that I am no Rambo, nor the Enforcer, nor even the Terminator, so I will freely tell you that I was scared to death and was wondering how I was going to get out of this mess.

 

That's when they heard the barking dog in the car. It was parked about fifty feet away from where we stood, so fortunately for me, all they could really see was a dog's head through the dirty windshield, and he didn't sound all that friendly. So I took advantage of the situation and said, "Do you see that dog? He's not going to let you in that car." 

 

And they let me go!

 

They didn't even go any closer, which was a good thing because if they had they would have seen the "beast" that had seemed so threatening. He was a cocker spaniel/poodle mix. We used to joke that he was more poo that spaniel. He wasn't much of a dog, but he was our dog and I have always been extremely grateful that I took him on that trip. 

 

Shortly after I got back home, I heard of an elderly couple that was killed by two young men at a rest stop in Wyoming. It appears that they needed a car and decided to take theirs. Now, I don't know if it was the same day or the same rest stop or the same young men, but it was too much of a coincidence for comfort. I was truly sorry for that couple, and if it was the same guys, then I wished I could have helped prevent what they did. When I left the rest stop, I didn't even think to stop somewhere up the road and report these guys. There was no such thing as cell phones back then so I couldn't make a call. Regardless, I still to this day think about that and wished that I could have done something for that couple, but of course that moment is long passed.

 

What hasn't passed is the thought that God did rescue me that day - whether it was from homicidal psychopaths or just from a small beating - I am convinced that He saved me and that I owe a debt. It is nothing compared to the debt we all owe for His giving His Son to die for our sins, but it does suggest the same responsibility: We owe God and Christ our very lives, and we need to be using this life in their service. For they have surely rescued us!

 

And they continue to do so, from time to time, and we may not even know it when they do. But one thing I am convinced about is that He rescued me that day. And He did so, not by my strength and might, but by a cockapoo! So I figure He will always rescue me, if I will just be careful to have a heart that is devoted to Him. And, He will do the same for you if you will just put your hope in Him.

 

Isn't God good!