Don’t Kill The Dog

“Don’t kill the dog.” This advice is often given to writers of fiction. “Don’t kill the dog; your readers will hate you.” Readers want stories with happy endings.

We want our real life stories to have happy endings too. It’s natural to want to avoid sadness and pain. We want life to be good. Pain and sadness always feels like an intrusion. It’s the piece that doesn’t seem to fit in the mosaic of our lives. The reality of life, however, includes sad things. People die. Dogs die.

The realities of a fallen world confront all of us every day. Accidents, illnesses, or business failures may affect anyone at any time. Murder, theft, terrorism, and injustice are all part of our world. Death, disappointment, discouragement and despair are all evidence that something is broken. When we are confronted with the damage and decay, we know something is not right. The world is not as it should be.

The problem is sin. Sin corrupted the world God created. We don’t take sin seriously enough. We rename it or redefine it. The human heart may laugh at it, excuse it or encourage it. Seldom do we see it as God does. “Don’t kill the dog,” may be good advice for fiction writers, but the truth about sin is a harsh reality that shouldn’t be softened. God hates sin. He hates the way it hurts people. Sin separates us from God. Sin is so serious, God’s only Son, Jesus, had to die because of it.

Because of sin, the world is broken. We all experience sin’s consequences in our lives. God gave us life. We are all accountable to Him. We are all guilty of resisting or rebelling against His perfect standard. There is only one solution. We need a Savior. God in His grace and mercy gave us Jesus to take the punishment we deserve for our sin. He died on the cross to redeem us from our sinful nature. Anyone who rejects His gift will face judgment for their sin.

Anyone who turns to Christ in faith receives forgiveness and becomes part of His redemption story.

C. S. Lewis observed, “If nothing in this world satisfies me, perhaps it is because I was made for another world.” God has promised a better world. Jesus will return and He will destroy all sin and evil forever. He will restore the world to what He intended. Anyone who is in Christ will escape the judgment and enjoy His restoration of the world. It is a perfect world where pain and sadness will be removed forever. Something deep within us aches for that world.

We were made for a better world. It’s coming. It will be a real-life happy ending for all who are in Christ.

So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared . . . . God himself will be with [his people] He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. Revelation 21:1,3,4.

How does it encourage you to know a better world is coming for all who know Jesus as Savior and Lord? Who will you tell about Him before it is too late? Please leave a comment below?

Blessings,
Phyllis

Copyright 2025 Phyllis L. Farringer

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