A CARAVAN was crossing to the north of India and in the company was a faithful Christian missionary. As they passed along, a poor old native was overcome by the heat and toil of the journey. Sinking down he was left to perish on the side of the road. The missionary saw him and kneeling down beside him, when the rest had passed on, he whispered in his ear, “Brother, what is your hope?”
The dying man raised himself a little to reply, and with great effort succeeded in answering, “The blood of Jesus Christ... cleanseth us from all sin!” Then he expired with the effort. The missionary was greatly astonished at his answer, and at the calm peaceful appearance of the old man. He felt sure he had died trusting in Christ. But how, or where, he thought, could this man, seemingly a heathen, have gotten hold of this hope?”
As he thought about it, he observed a piece of paper grasped tightly in the hand of the dead man, and he succeeded in getting it out. What was his surprise and delight when he found it was a single page from the Bible, containing chapter 1 of the First Epistle of John, in which these precious words are found: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” On that page the dear old man had found the gospel, which “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16).
Dear young friends, think of how many privileges you have, compared with this poor native Indian. You have been brought up in a Christian country, and perhaps you have been taught the precious truths of the Bible from childhood, but do you know what it is to be cleansed from all your sins by the blood of Christ, so that they are blotted out of God’s sight forever? Could you say, as a little girl once did, “The blood of Jesus settles it all for me"? The Lord Jesus is coming soon, perhaps today. If you are not under the shelter of the blood of Christ, do not delay any longer. Trust him now. Tomorrow may be too late.
ML-12/14/1969