This verse tells us that we have redemption through Jesus Christ. That's a big word that may not be easily understood. To redeem means to buy back. Here is a story that gives a good picture of redemption.
A little boy loved boats and decided to build one for himself. He very carefully carved it out of wood, fashioned it how he wanted and painted it his favorite color. He was so proud of his boat--it was his very own, and he loved it! The day came when it was time to sail it. He took the little boat to a nearby lake and put it in the water. As he stood in the shallow water watching it, suddenly a gust of wind caught the boat and pushed it into the deep out of reach, and the little boy stood there heartbroken as the currents carried his boat away. Sadly, he went home without it. One day as he walked by a pawn shop and looked in the window, there was his little boat. He ran home, emptied his piggy bank, took everything he had, and rushed back to the pawn shop to buy the boat. As he came out of the store with the boat in his arms, he smiled and said, "You're mine. You're twice mine, because I made you and now I've bought you back." The boat was redeemed!
This is a picture of what Jesus did when He died on the cross for our sins. All that was lost when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden (Genesis 3)--fellowship with God, eternal life, spiritual fruit--is restored in Christ and is ours. Now if we're turkeyized*--if we're thinking and living like the world around us--we may lose sight of this precious gift. God made us. Because He loves us so much, He gave all He had for us. We are His! We are redeemed!
Becky
Back to our home page!
*see Monday's page