Dogs seem to have a perverse joy in rolling around in dead things. I can remember a dog of ours once found a dead bird and rolled around in it, rubbing the decayed flesh into her fur. Then she happily trotted home and tried pouncing on us for cuddles. Ewww! Yuck!
The Lord used that incident to speak to me. This world is full of death — it has been decaying since sin entered thousands of years ago. Now, as Christians, we are washed clean, we are made alive to Christ. Death is no longer in us, but it is all around us.
Jesus offered to wash the disciples’ feet. Peter didn’t like this idea, but when Jesus insisted, he said, “Wash my whole body, then.” Jesus responded with: “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean.” They walked around in sandals on dusty roads — of course their feet got dirty. (See John 13)
The same goes with us. No matter how carefully we walk in this world full of death, it will cling to our feet, and we need to be washed clean before we can enter God’s presence. Like a daily foot-washing ceremony, we need to ask Him to cleanse us before we can really commune with Him, because after all, He is holy.
Now, here’s where the Lord really spoke to me. Knowing this truth, why would we willingly roll around in the death and decay of this world, just for entertainment — do we think it makes us smell nice (look good)? Then we come happily before God, ready for His embrace. What would His response be? Ewww! Yuck!?
Just a thought. 🙂
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” [Philippians 4:8 NIV]
Romancing The Rock 
With regards to dogs rolling in stuff, I recently read a book review for “Inside of a Dog – What Dogs See, Smell, and Know” which was quite interesting.
It conjectures that dogs, being primarily smell driven instead of primarily sight driven like humans, have quite different perceptions of reality and in particular, their sense of time.
I thought it was interesting, anyway.
Review: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/books/review/Schine-t.html
Book: http://www.amazon.com/Inside-Dog-What-Dogs-Smell/dp/1416583432/
E.
That is interesting stuff. A dog is only interested in the smell of a rose if it has been weed on. Hehe. I think perhaps in the same way, some things in the world that we think “smell” great, are repulsive to God. More things to think about. 🙂