Redemption
Text: He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Ephesians 1:7-8 NLT
Story: There was a little boy who lived by the sea and the one thing he loved best was to carve out little boats from the pieces of driftwood that came from that sea. One day he found washed up on the shore a solid block of wood so perfect for sculpting that he told himself, “This is going to be the best boat I’ll make!” and so he proceeded to carve it, making sure that the details were perfect. After sculpting it, he sanded it and painted and lacquered it. He’d then take it wherever he went, always showing it off to his friends.
One day, he waded into the sea, put his little boat on the water, and watched it bob up and down on the water. He was very proud of his boat. But suddenly, a great wave descended on him and the little boat, and the wave engulfed the little boat until it drifted far, far away from the boy and disappeared. The boy ran to his father, crying, and his father tried to comfort him, to no avail.
The days went past, and became weeks, then months, but the boy still missed his little boat. One day, while he was accompanying his father to town, he wandered into a store, and there, among the other souvenirs and merchandise the store was selling, was his little boat! He then approached the owner, and asked him where he got the little boat over there by the shelf.
“Well now,” said the owner, “someone came into the store just last week and sold me that little boat, and since it’s a fine piece of craftmanship, I thought it was a good deal.”
“Sir, you see, I was the one who made that little boat.” the boy said. “I carved it, sanded it, painted and lacquered it. It’s the best little boat I ever made, and it got lost at sea and I’ve searched and searched for it and now I’m so happy to have found it. Can I have it back please?”
The owner looked at the boy, shook his head, and said, “I’m sorry son, but I paid for that little boat, and if you want to get it back, then you’d have to buy it .” The boy, who didn’t have any money on him at the time, said, “Okay. I’ll be back soon. Just keep it in reserve for me, okay?” Then he took one last look at his little boat, and ran to join his father.
As soon as they came home, he went to his room, took his piggy bank, broke it, and counted the money in it. Alas, he came up short! He sat there, tears rolling down his face, and his father came in the room. “Son, what’s the matter?,” his father asked. So the boy told him what happened, and his father said, “Son, why do love that little boat so much? There are so many pieces of wood that wash up daily from the sea. You could make another little boat, or even more if you wished. “
The boy replied, “Father, I loved that little boat so much. I couldn’t eat nor sleep, wondering what had happened to it all these months. And to have found it after all this time! Father, I don’t care how much it costs, I’m going to work hard so I can save up to buy back my little boat.”
His father lovingly looked at his son’s sad face, and said, “Okay, my son, I understand. Here, I’ll give you the money to buy back your boat,” and handed him the money. The boy hugged his father tightly, whispering, “Thank you, father.” and ran off towards the store, and bought back his little boat. He took it home, cradling it in his arms, and showed it off to his father, his mother, and the rest of his family. From then on, he never let it drift too far at sea, and always kept it at his side. (copied)
What a great verse and a good story to help us understand the word “redemption”
Notice God’s Creation. Mankind was created by God in his image. Adam & Eve were made perfect. They were placed in a perfect place. They had everything that they needed. There was only one boundary. They could eat of all the trees in the garden except the one in the middle of the garden which was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Notice Our Choice. God created us with a free will. We are not like computers are programmed robots. Adam and Eve chose to disobey God and to eat of the very tree that he had forbidden of them. Less we start trying to blame Adam & Eve for our condition or for society’s dilemma’s let’s remember that we have all sinned and come short of his will and word.
Notice The Consequences. God forewarned Adam & Eve of the consequences of eating from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
Notice The Curse. Because of Adam & Eve’s choice they fell under the curse of death and so death has passed upon all men because all have sinned. Humanity’s sin has also caused a separation with God.
Notice The Course. Interwoven in the Bible is the unconditional love of God for man. When Adam & Eve sinned…it was God who who approached man. Throughout the Bible God is on a mission…one that perhaps in beyond our finite minds. The mission….to buy back that which has been lost…..You and I.
Notice The Cost. Humanity could not and cannot redeem itself. We could not save or rescue ourselves from the grasp of sin and the sting of death. Good works couldn’t do it. The sacrificial system of the OT couldn’t do it. There was only one way….and God loved us so much that he sent his only Son Jesus to die on the cross to purchase our freedom.
Our sins have been paid for…..our freedom purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ.
Our salvation is free but remember it is not cheap !
If you have not done so already….come to Jesus through prayer asking for the forgiveness of your sins and simply believe that he died on the cross for your sins and that God raised him from the dead.
