This story took place over 200 years ago, before the United States became a nation. A little girl named Regina lived where the state of Pennsylvania is now. She lived among the tall dark trees in a wigwam with an old Indian woman and another little girl. Regina and this other little girl had been taken captive and were slaves to the old woman. They worked very hard for her and often thought of their fathers and mothers and cried for the happy homes they missed.
The thought of being held as a captive is something all of us shrink from. But if you are still a lost sinner, you are being held captive by your sins and the devil -Satan. Luke 4:1818The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18) tells us one of the reasons the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth was “to preach deliverance [freedom] to the captives.” He came to set you free from your sins and Satan.
As Regina thought of her parents, she was reminded of the many Bible verses and songs they had taught her when she lived at home. God used these to bring her to believe on the Lord Jesus while she was a captive. In Him she found a loving Saviour whose blood, shed on the cross, had taken away all her sins and a Friend who could make her happy. She would often sing this song with a thankful heart:
“Alone, yet not alone am I,
Though in this solitude so drear;
I feel my Saviour always near,
He comes my weary hours to cheer,
I am with Him, and He with me,
Even here alone I cannot be.”
Have you ever felt lonely and sad or brokenhearted? Luke 4:1818The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18) tells us another reason the Lord Jesus came was “to heal the broken-hearted.” If you belong to Him, He promises to comfort you and help you in any circumstances. He can give you joy, no matter where you are. And He did this for Regina. She began to tell her little friend the Bible verses, and then she would sing her favorite song.
The little girl listened to Regina with tears in her eyes. At last she, too, accepted the Lord Jesus as her very own Saviour and Friend.
Regina and her little friend lived as captives for nine long years. Except for the Bible verses and songs they sang in English, they forgot the English language and could speak only the Indian language.
Then one day when Regina was 18 years old and her friend was 11, deliverance came! The English Colonel Bouquet had the Indians give up their slaves, and 400 young people were taken to the town of Carlisle where notice was given that all parents who had lost children could claim them.
Regina’s mother came, but after so many years she didn’t know Regina and Regina didn’t know her mother! The poor mother was so disappointed. Then she remembered a song she used to sing to her children, and with a shaky voice she began to sing,
“Alone, yet not alone am I.”
She had hardly reached the second line when Regina ran from the crowd, joined in the song, and threw herself into her mother’s arms!
Are you still a captive? Do Satan and your sins still control your life? You can be set free this very minute if you will listen to the call of the Lord Jesus. He cries, “Come unto Me, all ye that labor [toil for Satan] and are heavy laden [with your sins], and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:2828Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28).
Will you run to His loving arms?
ML-07/10/1994