Here is a picture of Cannes, France, and it brings to mind an interesting story of that land.
King John of France lay bound in an English prison. It was long ago, about six hundred years, I think, that the soldier king was captured in battle. Bound with heavy chains, he was taken from his native land, but his hopes were high. Surely his people would ransom him from death.
Three million golden crowns was the ransom price set by his captors. Who could pay so great a debt? Days grew into months and months into years, but still the king’s ransom money could not be found, and his prison gates were barred, long miles from sunny France.
All who are born into this world, unless set free by the Lord Jesus, are Satan’s prisoners, bound with the chains of sin. All have gone down to defeat. We have no right to breathe the pure air of the garden of Eden, which was once man’s beautiful home, because we have sinned. The ransom price is great indeed, for we cannot be redeemed with corruptible things such as silver and gold. Oh, poor lost sinner, if this is your case, death draws nearer and your chains grow heavier. Who can set you free? Who can pay so great a debt?
Up and down the hills of France went the heralds of the king, but the ransom price was too great. After seven long years of disappointment, King John died in an English prison.
But for lost sinners now, how eagerly and gladly we tell you that the ransom is paid! It was great indeed. It was not three million golden crowns, but the precious life-blood of the only begotten Son of God. He died for our sins and the price of the sinner’s ransom has been paid in full.
What must you do to be saved? Believe the wonderful message of God’s love and accept Christ as your Saviour. Then you will pass from darkness to light. We, who have lost any right to the garden of Eden, may spend eternity with Christ in glory above. But if you die unransomed, as King John did, then you will be lost forever because you refused to accept the ransom fully paid, and your chains of sin will bind you under God’s judgment, for all eternity.
Will you not gladly accept the finished work of our precious Saviour, and pass from death unto life? Listen to God’s wonderful Word which says,
ML 02/28/1954