Many of you are familiar with the name of Leonardo da Vinci. He was a painter, sculptor and carver, and his works still delight thousands. Perhaps you may have seen photographs and prints of some of his famous pictures.
Leonardo lived in Milan, one of the grand old cities of Italy and the people of that city often recount stories from his life as part of their heritage. In Leonardo's time, one corner of the quaint marketplace was occupied by dealers selling cages of beautiful birds, caught in the forests of Italy, or freshly stolen from the nest.
Day by day Leonardo walked down the street to the marketplace, and might be found in that corner, buying frightened, fluttering birds from the young lads who sold them.
These ragged, barefooted boys used to watch for his coming, and would nudge one another as the "crazy painter" came in sight, certain of a ready sale for their birds. No matter how many he bought one day, he always wanted more the next.
"What can he want them for?" they asked, and perhaps you wonder too.
Let us follow him, as he makes his way through the crowded marketplace, with his arms full of cages, and cages slung on his back. The chattering people smile and point after him, as he passes out of sight.
On he goes, until he reaches the pleasant field and hedgerows, and then, tenderly and gently and with a joyful expression he opens every cage and sets the birds free!
The summer air is filled with happy, trilling bird-music as the birds, wild with delight at their freedom, mount upward in the blue sky. Leonardo da Vinci stands watching them with pleasure, and an echo of their joy is in his own heart.
We cannot help admiring the great painter in this lowly work of love to God's creatures.
In his act, we may see a picture of God's wonderful gospel. God Himself is the Great Artist and Sculptor of the universe. He sees poor souls caught in the snares of Satan and caged by sin, and pities them with a tender longing.
The Lord Jesus Christ, His beloved Son, died to redeem these souls. Now He says, "Ye are bought with a price" (1 Cor. 6:2020For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. (1 Corinthians 6:20)), and that price was His own life, laid down for them. He loves to set prisoned souls free.
"He came to break the captive's chains, to set the prisoners free." Are you tied and bound with the chain of your sins? Do you long to be free from the power of sin and Satan? The Lord Jesus can set you free! He, and He alone, can open your prison door! Listen!
Believe that Jesus has died to purchase you; let Him undo your chains; then let your heart sing out His praises in the sunshine of His love, just as the freed birds caroled in the bright, blue heavens. A saved soul is a happy soul!
"Who would not live for Jesus,
Rejoicing, glad, and free?
The music of a ransomed life,
Is what He asks of Thee!"