HE had traveled through many parts of the dark continent, had visited many of the chiefs and knew much of the life and habits of the down-trodden tribes of that romantic land, yet here was an object before him which drew forth his sympathy in a way that it had never been drawn before.
The traveler was an Englishman, traveling with a threefold object—the love of wild varied scenery, a desire to benefit the uncivilized men whom he met, and to spread abroad the Name and fame of Him who died for the black heathen as well as the white wise men.
The object of his love was Garra, a poor, wandering, outcast from his tribe. The gentleman sought first to make a bargain with the feather-crowned chief, Liba by name.
But Liba replied haughtily that he was not in need of ivory, or gems, or gold, as he could obtain any quantity of these by sending out his armed men and raiding the district around. He wanted blood and blood he must have, so he ordered one of his men to throw a spear at Garra.
But the Englishman was roused, and rushing forward, with uplifted hand, received the spear in his arm. The blood began to flow, and Liba began to wail, for he knew he might slay one hundred black men and no one would check him, but a whole army might come and avenge the white man’s blood.
The traveler rightly read his dismay, and with the blood flowing, said, “See, here it flows before thee, and for it thou must give account.”
“O, Liba meant it not,” cried the chief.
“Well,” said the man, “let my blood go for his, let it be the ransom price of Garra, give him up and there shall be peace between thee and me on this account.”
“Be it so,” answered the chief, And Garra was free.
After some time the band departed, leaving the Englishman alone with his dark brother whom he had redeemed with his blood, and who now fell on the ground and with tears running down his black cheeks, thanked his mighty deliverer, who in turn had the joy of pointing him to the loving Saviour who shed His own precious blood on Calvary to redeem captive sinners from the devil.
Garra, the outcast, could not be redeemed from his enemy by gold or gems; it needed blood, the blood of a willing and mighty substitute before he could be free. So boys and girls, rebel sinners by nature and practice against God, cannot he saved from the devil by prayers or good deeds. It needed the precious blood of a holy and willing Saviour before one could be saved for “without the shedding of blood is no remission.”
ML-02/24/1935