In June of 1998, Ed Leonard, a 60-year-old Canadian
driller, accepted a job with Terramundo Drilling to work in Colombia, South
America as a drilling foreman. On June 24, seven days after he arrived in
Colombia, he was taken captive by armed rebels who demanded a ransom of
$500,000. Leonard’s captors, armed with automatic weapons, kept him moving
throughout the Andes Mountains. Leonard bathed in frigid rivers, lived in a
tent, and lost 21 pounds during the ordeal.
On October 6 of the same year, the guerrillas informed
Leonard that he was going to be part of an “exchange.” That afternoon, he saw
another Canadian that he had never seen before. “You must be Ed Leonard,” said
Norbert Reinhart. “Your shift is over. It’s time for you to go home.”
Reinhart, 49, owner of Terramundo Drilling, was
Leonard’s boss. Leonard had never seen him before because he was hired over the
phone. But now this complete stranger had traded places with him so that he
could go home to be with his family. Leonard told reporters, “There is no way to
put it in words, when somebody basically gives his life for you.” *
Reinhart was eventually returned home safely to his
family, but his willingness to “trade places” with Leonard was heroic and
illustrates something that has been done for you and for me.
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins
is a slave to sin” (John 8:34). That “self-inflicted” slavery (see James
1:13-15) is universal, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”
(Romans 3:23). To make matters worse, this slavery leads to death (Romans 6:23)
and none of us has the resources to pay the ransom price to set ourselves free.
But Jesus came to our rescue. He paid the price for
our redemption with His own blood. The Apostle Peter reminded some Christians of
the ransom price that was paid for them: “For you know that it was not with
perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty
way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious
blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19). On the
cross, Jesus “traded places” with us, taking the punishment for our sins upon
Himself (1 Peter 2:24), so that we could be set free.
Why did He do it? Because He loves us. “Greater love
has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends” (John 15:13).
Because of Jesus, we can be set free from sin and its
eternal punishment if we will only accept His offer of salvation and eternal
life on His terms.
God will save those who place their faith and trust in
Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31),
confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into
Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to cleanse from
sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).
That exchange of His sinless life for our sin-stained
lives is called GRACE. By His grace, YOU can be saved and live eternally with
Him if you will only accept His offer through your obedient faith (Ephesians
2:8-9).
Won’t YOU?
David A. Sargent
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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