Can You Wash a Piece of Coal White?

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Duration: 2min
 •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 8
Listen from:
• BibleTruthPublishers.com
MR. GRANT liked to talk to children. He could make the way of salvation so clear and simple that even the little ones could understand and some of his illustrations they never forgot.
In a village where he visited some of the children had been taught that if they had had a little water sprinkled on their face when they were babies, their sins were washed away, and it made them fit for heaven. Mr. Grant wanted to show them from the Bible that water cannot wash away sins, nor can any of the outward things that people are told to do make them fit for God’s presence either.
Mr. Grant offered a prize to anyone who could wash a piece of coal white. He wanted the children to know that our hearts are like the coal, black all through, and that outward things, like sprinkled water, going to church, trying to be good, giving, and making sacrifices, can never cleanse away sin. There must be the washing of the precious blood and this can only take place when the sinner comes to Jesus, and believes on Him who died for his sins.
Three children tried to win the prize. Each brought a piece of coal which they had tried to wash. One boy had tried all morning. He used cold water, and hot water, he tried different detergents and cleansers, but the coal remained as black as ever.
So Mr. Grant used this simple illustration to show that sin cannot be purged away by outward things, like washing. Just as the Scriptures say, “Though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the LORD God.” Jeremiah 2:2222For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God. (Jeremiah 2:22).
No, there is only one remedy for sin, and God gives it in that wonderful verse, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7).
That blood shed on the cross atoned for sin, and all who believe in Jesus are freely forgiven, and are clean in God’s sight.
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Oh, precious is the flow,
That makes me white as snow!
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
ML-12/03/1972