Colonel Beckwith was a retired army officer who had made his home among the people of the Vaudois Valleys in France. His purpose in being there was to serve the Lord by helping the humble believers there and by preaching the gospel of Christ.
One day he met a poor man named Botalon who was well known in the district. Botalon made his living by delivering coal and wood on the back of his donkey, which was also well known as “Botalon’s Donkey.” This day Be-talon was without his donkey and was weeping.
“What is the matter, my friend?” said Beckwith.
“Ah sir,” replied the poor man, “they are going to take away my donkey, and without it my family and I must die of hunger.” Then he told how one of his creditors had seized his donkey, intending to put it in his own stable.
Beckwith was touched by the story and asked Botalon how much he owed. When told the amount he said, “Well, my friend, would you object to selling me your donkey and you pay your creditor with the money I give you for it?”
Botalon was willing and brought the donkey. After receiving the money from Beckwith, he turned away with a heavy heart, but then the Colonel said, “Oh, you may take the donkey with you for the present and make use of it until I claim it. However, you must understand that the donkey is mine and that I can allow no one to seize it under any pretext whatsoever.”
The surprise and joy of the poor man when he heard this can be beer imagined than described. How happy he was! As for the donkey itself, this incident made it quite famous in the neighborhood. Henceforth instead of being called “Boton’s Donkey,” it went by the name of “The Colonel’s Donkey.”
How much like that donkey are we? We were lost and under the power of Satan, because of sin. But Jesus has died on the cross and shed His blood to pay the debt of sin and to redeem (buy back) our souls for Himself. No one can take us away from Him: “Neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28).
The Bible also tells us: “He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature.” 2 Corinthians 5:15,1715And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. (2 Corinthians 5:15)
17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17).
ML-03/16/1980