The little fish was so pretty as it dangled in the sunlight on the end of John’s fishing line. Its white underside was so very white, and its back glistened with a silvery sparkle. But that sparkle did not shine as brightly as the sparkle in John’s eyes! This was the second fish he had ever caught and the first one that Dad had said was big enough to keep and eat. He took it around to show everyone at the campsite.
The only thing spoiling the beauty of the little fish was the silvery hook through its mouth and coming out of its gill. The little fish was caught in such a way that there was no getting away. It was captured, just as each of us has been captured by sin. The end of this little fish appeared to be the campfire come suppertime. The end of you and me would be eternal punishment, except that a Deliverer has come and offered to free us from our sins. The little fish had no power to free itself from the hook, and we don’t have the power to free ourselves from sin.
Shortly after the delight of showing off his newly caught fish, a more quiet little boy than he had been earlier crept by my side to tell me that the little fish was free. It was fun to have caught the fish, and it may have been good to eat, but it was no fun for this tenderhearted boy to keep one of God’s creatures on a fishing line. John had let him go. The little fish was free to swim again. But maybe it was free only to be caught by another fisherman.
It was not so easy for the Lord Jesus Christ to set us free. “Our Lord Jesus Christ . . . gave Himself for our sins that He might deliver us” (Galatians 1:3-4). It was the hardest work that was ever done or will ever be done. His holy, spotless life was given, and His blood was spilt to free us from our sins. His work on Calvary’s cross will last forever. But what about John’s fish? John had no power to see to it that no other fisherman would catch his little prize. But when the Lord Jesus Christ took our place and broke the bonds that held us, the work was so wonderfully complete that we are forever His own prize. No one can take us from Him. He will never let us go. We are His forever. “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life” (John 3:36).
Maybe you have never come to the Lord Jesus as a sinner, admitting you need to be freed from your sins. If not, why are you waiting? He never will turn away a boy or girl or man or woman who comes to Him. In the quietness of your heart, just tell Him that you are a sinner and want Him to be your Saviour.
If you have already let Him save you, just thank Him for the wonderful freedom He has given you and the gift of everlasting life. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
ML-05/26/2002