The Redemption of Lot Carey

Each birthday I experience I have this growing desire to forget the precise year I was born. Sadly, the older I get the harder it is for me to remember it. At least, I know when I was born.

Lot Carey lived without knowledge of when he was born. He only knew that he was born on a plantation in Richmond Virginia around 1780.  

He grew up on the plantation rejecting the Christ his parents followed. He lived a godless existence. Then, one day, he was sitting in the gallery at the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Virginia listening to a sermon from the third chapter of the gospel of John. He heard the story of Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night, and the conversation Jesus had with Nicodemus about being born-again to enter the kingdom of God. When the preacher said, "You must be born-again" the Holy Spirit pierced his heart, and he gave his life to Jesus Christ.

Overtime, Lot Carey redeemed his family from slavery on the Virginia plantation, which enabled him to become the first black missionary to Africa. He died serving the Lord on the mission field. Lot redeemed his family from slavery, but Jesus redeemed him from the slavery of sin, and made him a son.

The gospel is God sending his Son to redeem us from the slavery of sin, securing us as his sons, and giving us freedom to live for God fulfilling his plan for our lives.