Many of our readers will be familiar with the name of Leonardo da Vinci, the famous Italian artist, sculptor and carver. He lived in Milan, one of the old cities of Italian story. The people there still tell the tale of his life among them years ago.
In his time one corner of the quaint market place was occupied by dealers selling cages of beautiful birds caught in the forests of Italy, or freshly stolen from the nest. Day by day Leonardo would walk down the street to the market place and there he might be found buying from the dark-eyed peasant lads their frightened fluttering prisoners.
These ragged barefoot boys used to watch for his coming, and nudge one another as the “crazy painter” came in sight, certain of a ready sale for their birds. No matter how many he bought one day, the next he was back for more.
“What can he want them for?” they asked, and perhaps you do, too.
Let us follow him as he makes his way through the thronged marketplace, his arms full of cages and more cages slung on his back. The chattering peasants smile and point after him as he passes out of sight. On he goes until he reaches the pleasant fields and hedgerows. Then, oh so tenderly, so gently, a smile of joy shining on his face, he opens every cage and sets the birds free!
The flower-scented summer air is filled with the happy song of birds as, wild with delight at their freedom, they soar upward into the blue sky. Leonardo da Vinci stands watching them with the greatest pleasure and an echo of their joy is in his own heart.
We cannot help admiring the great painter in his lowly work of love to God’s creatures.
We may see in his act a picture of God’s wonderful gospel. God is Himself the great Artist and Sculptor of the universe. He sees poor souls caught in the snares of Satan, and caged by sin, and He looks down upon them with the greatest love and compassion. The Lord Jesus Christ, His beloved Son, died to redeem these souls. To those who have trusted Him as Saviour, whom He has redeemed by His precious blood, He says now, “Ye are bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:2020For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20))—His own life laid down for them. And so God finds supreme delight in setting prisoners free from sin, and death and judgment.
Dear reader, are you still bound with the chain of your sins? Do you long to be free? Jesus will set you free. Only He can open the door of your prison. Listen!
Believe that Jesus died to purchase you, and He will set you free from all guilt of sin and Satan’s power. Then let your heart sing out His praises in the sunshine of His love, as the birds set free sang in the joy of their liberty.
I will sing of my Redeemer
And His wondrous love to me;
How He purchased my redemption
With His blood, and set me free.
ML-09/12/1976