Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - When Slaves Go Free - #8185

Monday, January 11, 2010

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With Martin Luther King’s birthday approaching, I remember the amazing story of John Parker.

I’m Ron Hutchcraft, and John Parker had it made. After two attempts to escape being a slave to a Southern slave owner, he’d finally gotten his freedom, and he chose to live in Ripley, Ohio on the freedom side of the Ohio River. He got a house and a good job; ultimately, owned a foundry. He was safe, secure and successful.

But night after night, John Parker risked it all. Under cover of darkness, he rowed across the river to the slave side in Kentucky. Now, if he was caught he could lose his freedom; he could lose his life. In spite of the risks, John Parker went looking for runaway slaves. And it’s believed that John Parker was responsible for at least 900 slaves going free. A liberated slave, taking great risks because he can’t leave other slaves where he once was.

That’s what Jesus is calling you and me to be and to do. In the words of God Himself, “Rescue those who are being led away to death” (Proverbs 24:11 ). That’s every person you and I know who doesn’t know our Jesus. You were rescued. Now you need to be the rescuer. All those fears that keep you from crossing the river to bring them out have one thing in common: they’re all about “me”. They might reject me; I might mess it up. But rescue is all about them. What will happen to them if I don’t go in for the rescue?

You are their chance at Jesus. You are their chance at heaven. There’s a lot more at our website about how to help people you know be in heaven with you. Would you visit us there—AlifeThatMatters.org?

This radio program references: Proverbs 12:11