IT is many years ago now since slavery was abolished in the United States. But before that date slaves were sold in the marketplaces by auction, just as though they had been sheep or horses! General Fisk gives the following interesting account of the sale of a dear old Christian negro, who for long years had been saving up money with which to buy his own freedom.
"How much for this old man?" said the glib auctioneer. "Here is a fine man, honest, faithful, a good preacher: how much? how much? Gentlemen, bid something! Twenty-five dollars is bid; twenty-five only, for this excellent servant? Thirty is bid; thirty, thirty, forty: do I hear forty? Forty; fifty, fifty; sixty, sixty; sixty-five, sixty-five!"
The old man's heart beat quick: his eyes were flooded with tears. He had laid up some money, hoping to buy himself and die free; his fortune was already nearly reached, the bids were running him up beyond his own means. In a clear voice, dictated by hope, he cried aloud "Seventy!" The slave buyers stood aghast: the moral effect stilled the crowd. "Seventy, seventy," cried the auctioneer; "seventy, seventy, and done!" Precious purchase! he was free, who had always been a slave.
And he, you will remember, had purchased his own freedom by the accumulated savings of a lifetime! But those who have been slaves of sin and Satan cannot buy themselves free. Some try to do so, and that is why they do not come to Jesus and be made happy, for they are always trying to pay for their own freedom, as it were, by good resolutions, by going to church, by trying to become religious, and by doing good deeds.
Salvation cannot be purchased that way for we learn from the Bible that it is all of grace, and not of works. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works lest any man should boast." Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9). Again, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Rom. 6:2323For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23).
Now the Lord Jesus has bought the freedom of all those who trust in Him, for their salvation, and this He did at the cost of His own life upon the cross of Calvary; for "The Son of man came . . . to give His life a ransom for many." Matt. 20:2828Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. (Matthew 20:28). And are you, dear young reader, among "the many"? In 1 Peter 1:1818Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (1 Peter 1:18) we read, "Ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, . . . but with the precious blood of Christ." Have you been redeemed yet?
The Saviour says to each one of us,
Messages of the Love of God 11/2/1958