Puppies for Sale

March 24, 2025

In today’s world there are many cynical and skeptical people who don’t believe God exists. They can’t see Him, smell Him, taste Him, touch Him or hear Him. If we can’t perceive Him through our five senses, then it is senseless to believe in Him.

Honestly, the claim of our faith that the creator of the universe wants a personal relationship with everyone of us is outrageous. How does our infinite God even connect with us if we cannot perceive Him, or even understand who an infinite God is? We are so finite!

Here is a story that might bring clarity. A shop owner placed a sign above his door that said: “Puppies For Sale.” A boy saw the sign and asked the owner, “How much are you going to sell the puppies for?”

The store owner replied, “Anywhere from $30 to $50.” (Clearly these are pre-covid prices).

The boy pulled out some change and said, “I have $2.37. Can I please look at them?” The shop owner smiled as six tiny balls of fur jumped on the boy. One puppy was lagging and immediately the little boy singled out the limping puppy and said, “What’s wrong with that little dog?” The shop owner explained he didn’t have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. “That is the puppy that I want to buy.”

The shop owner said, “No, you don’t want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I’ll just give him to you.”

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner’s eyes, pointing his finger, and said, “I don’t want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I’ll pay full price. In fact, I’ll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for.” The shop owner continued to argue that the little dog would be nothing but trouble. Then the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled leg with a big metal brace. He looked up at the shop owner and softly replied, “Well, I don’t run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!”

The idea that Jesus experienced what we experience so He can relate to us is most clearly expressed in Hebrews 4:15 which reads, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." This passage refers to Jesus as our “high priest” and emphasizes that He faced the same kinds of temptations and struggles that we do, yet remained sinless. This allows Him to understand and sympathize with our human challenges as He helps us understand and connect to God.

Also, we read in Hebrews 2:17-18, “For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” This verse highlights that Jesus became fully human, experiencing suffering and temptation, so He could serve as a compassionate mediator between God and humanity.

As Jesus reveals who God is then we may not see Him, but we can see the signs of His presence. We may not hear Him easily but, if we learn to pray, we can hear Him speak to our souls. We can’t hold Him but, we can experience the healing power of His Spirit touching our lives. We can’t touch God, but God touches like when a reassuring breeze touches our cheek at just the right moment, steadying your soul amidst the chaos.” Can we taste God? Psalm 34:8 says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.” So yes, you can taste God’s existence, in the intangible—through emotions, insights, or encounters that resonate as profoundly as any flavor.

Take a moment to go through each sense, and ponder how God reveals Himself to you through the senses He has given you. Do it with a spouse, a friend, or especially a child. I can only imagine how God will bless your life by sharing this simple experience with a child.

(To learn more about Al Earley or read previous articles, see www.lagrangepres.org. You can purchase my book, My Faith Journal, at Amazon.com, a compilation of 366 articles as a daily devotional).