Cooper’s Sin

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

—I John 1:9

I smelled her before I saw her.  Cooper was home and had obviously been on some raucaus outing indulging her lower nature.  Like most dogs, Cooper had a penchant for dead things.  She loved to sniff them, rub them, and roll in them.  The habit greatly hindered our friendship. She couldn’t ride in the cab of the pick up with me in that condition, and she certainly wasn’t going to sleep in the house, much less at the foot of the bed as was normal.  Petting was also out of the question

The snow-flecked winds of winter made an outside bath impossible.  I muttered something about her taste in entertainment, held my breath and pushed her inside.  Through the living room we went, and into the tiny bathroom. I opened the window, turned on the fan, and locked her in while I went  to the kitchen for a large can of tomato juice, which cuts all kinds of dog-acquired smells.  Back in the bathroom, I forced a suspicious and reluctant cow dog into the shower where I dumped the juice over her.  The baptism of red, semi-thick liquid seemed to seal her humiliation.  At one point, while I gasped and panted for air at the window, she slithered out of the shower and into the nearest corner.  Humiliation had turned to defiance.  She never growled, but she stared at me with angry eyes and kicked the wall like a horse.  Sorry, Cooper.  Your sin has found you out.

I rinsed off the juice and worked a sweet smelling shampoo into her shiny black coat.  She wasn’t perfect, but she was better. Eventually, she forgave me, and that night she slept at the foot of the bed. Our fellowship was restored.

Sin is a bad smelling substance to God. He loves us dearly and there’s nothing he wants more than to have us riding by his side all day long, enjoying the sights and sounds of life as they pass by.  He wants us to rest in His presence, too, asleep at the foot of his bed. 

But alas. We are born with a nature that draws us to spiritually dead things–bitterness, wrath, gpssip, unforgiveness, lying, cheating and lust, only start the list and we smell bad after rolling in them. Because God wants our friendship so much, he comes to bathe us. Unlike my dealings with Cooper, though, he won’t force us into the process, we must choose it.  It begins when we  simply confess our wrongs and believe  by faith that the blood His son Jesus shed on the cross washes away our stench. It continues as we stay close to him by, delighting in His word, staying in touch trough prayer. He always accepts us just the way we are, but loves us too much to leave us that way. 

Jesus, when I sin, help me to remember how much you love me and that You died to be close me. Thank you for your promise of forgiveness. I so love living life with you. Thanks for letting me ride around with you and thanks for letting me rest in Your Presence. 

© 1998 Jean Nelsen