Colonel Beckwith was a retired army officer who lived among the people of the Vaudois Valleys in France. His purpose in being there was to serve the Lord by helping the believers there who were poor and by preaching the gospel of Christ.
One day he met a poor man named Botalon who was well-known in the area. Botalon made his living by delivering coal and wood on the back of his donkey. The donkey was also well-known as “Botalon’s donkey.” This day Botalon was without his donkey and was so sad he was crying.
“What’s the matter, Botalon?” asked Beckwith.
“Sir, they have taken away my donkey, and without it I cannot earn a living. My family and I will die of hunger.” Then he told how a man he owed money to had taken his donkey and had put it in his own stable, intending to keep it.
Beckwith felt sorry for Botalon and asked him how much money he owed the man. When told the amount, Beckwith said, “Botalon, would you sell me your donkey and then you can pay your debt with the money I give you for your donkey?”
Botalon agreed and bought back his donkey from the man. After giving the donkey to Beckwith, he turned away sad since he still didn’t have a donkey to earn a living.
Beckwith quickly said, “You may take the donkey with you for now and use it until I claim it. However, you must understand that the donkey is mine and that no one may take it from you for any reason whatsoever.”
The surprise and joy of poor Botalon when he heard this can hardly be described. He was so happy! As for the donkey, it became quite famous in the village. After that, instead of being called “Botalon’s donkey,” it was called “the Colonel’s donkey.”
You and I are just like that donkey. We were lost and under Satan’s power because of sin. But Jesus has died on the cross and shed His blood to pay the debt of sin and to 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 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. 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-07/09/2006