Years ago in the history of our country many people in Africa were stolen away from their homeland and brought to the United States to be sold as slaves.
James was one of these little slave boys and lived in Texas on a big farm called a plantation. He never knew his father and mother. The family must have been separated before he was old enough to remember.
James was already big enough to do a hard day’s work when one day a man named Mr. Gant visited the plantation. Seeing all the slaves toiling hard at their work, he felt sorry for them because their lives belonged to another man. They had no chance to go to school and learn what they liked to do. He asked the owner of the plantation the price of all his slaves, and when told the figure, Mr. Gant paid the whole price for every slave on the plantation. Then calling the slaves all together, he told them that they were free and could go wherever they liked.
We can just imagine how some of them would act upon hearing the wonderful news. No doubt they clapped their hands, jumped up and down, shouted, laughed or cried. Maybe some ran over and thanked Mr. Gant for his kindness. Perhaps some couldn’t believe it.
James had no one to go to, but he had the best part of all because Mr. Gant took special notice of him and said, “Would you like to come with me?” James was happy to go with the kind friend who had set him free. So James became James Gant.
Charles Gant, grandson of James, told this lovely story, and how it reminds us of Another who loved us and paid the greatest price of all to set us free. We belonged to God who made us, but Satan came into this world and brought about man’s fall. We all became his slaves through sin, even as the Lord Jesus said, “Whoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” John 8:3434Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:34).
He saw us in our misery, led on by Satan, and He pitied us. He did not need to ask “What is the price for all these slaves?” for His own Word tells us, “The wages of sin is death.” (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).) So He came down from heaven and paid the full price of our redemption by His death on the cross. His blood was the price, and He set us free so that we need not sin any more.
James was happy to go with his wonderful friend who had bought him and to be called by his name. And we who have been bought by the blood of Jesus are glad to follow Him and to be called by His name Christians or “Christ ones.”
James learned later on what it was to be bought a second time—bought with the precious blood of Christ. And he did glorify God in his life, for he became a preacher of the gospel.
ML-02/19/1978