A FRIEND of mine used to delight in telling the story of a good mother elephant that he saw in a picture. The scene was by some water in Africa, and a number of Africans had hunted her and her baby calf into the lake, where she was protecting her child by standing between it and the shore. The shore was lined with the hunters, who hurled spears, meant for the young elephant. But as the mother stood in front, and was much bigger, the spears all wounded her, while her little one was untouched. My friend said the picture made him think of his Saviour.
“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5.
Because of our sin, God must smite us; but His beloved Son became “our shield.” He came from heaven and died instead of us, bearing the punishment that was our due, and now all who believe this wonderful fact and put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, are saved for all eternity.
“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Romans 5:6.
Love led the mother to protect her child. And
Oh, ’twas love, ’twas wondrous love!
The love of God to me:
It brought my Saviour from above,
To die on Calvary.
Did the young elephant “love its saviour? And do you, dear reader, love the Saviour of sinners?
“Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.” 1 Peter 3:18.
ML-04/06/1969