Memory Verse: “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
David lived in a big, white house with many houses all around it. Not far away was a valley surrounded by hills. There were many trails and caves in these hills that David and the other boys and girls in the neighborhood enjoyed exploring.
David had seen different kinds of birds and animals along the trails. One time a raccoon waddled across his path. It stopped a little distance away and stood staring at him. David thought the black rings around the raccoon’s eyes made it look like it was wearing a mask.
One day as David was walking along one of the trails, he saw something shiny in the weeds at the edge of the path. A sun ray peeking through the trees hit it and made it shine. David bent down to look.
Whatever it was, it must have been there for some time because it was almost buried in leaves and dirt. Even bits of moss were clinging to it.
As David picked away the dirt and moss he discovered it was a glass vase. It was not broken or even chipped. But it was quite dirty and not very pretty. He knew his mother would not want such a dirty thing in the house. He wondered what he should do with it. Throw it back in the dirt? Oh, no! He would not do that.
David knew that he could not take this vase caked with dirt into his mother’s house. Do you know that you cannot go into God’s house in heaven with the dirtiness of your sins still on you? The vase that David found was very dirty. But it only takes one sin to keep us out of heaven. Since each of us has sinned, there is nothing we can do that will make us clean for heaven. God loves you and me, and He wants us to come into His house in heaven. So He has made a way for even the dirtiest sinner to be made clean. The Bible tells us, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18.
How can He make us this clean? Through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. “The blood of Jesus Christ His (God’s) Son cleanseth us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7. The Lord Jesus Christ was punished on the cross for the sins of everyone who will believe in Him. Because the Lord Jesus Christ is sinless, His blood shed there can wash away (remove from God’s sight) our sins that would keep us out of God’s house. After we ask the Lord Jesus to wash our sins away, we are presented as clean and white to God.
Looking at the dirty vase in his hand, David thought of Mrs. Weber, the little, old lady who lived in one of the houses down in the valley. She was an artist who painted pretty pictures. She often made other pretty things, too. David remembered how she had fixed his sister’s broken doll one time. Maybe she could help him, too. So he headed off to Mrs. Weber’s house.
He knocked timidly on her door, because he was a little shy. But she heard his gentle knock and greeted David with her friendly smile. She invited him to come in.
“So you found this,” she said as she carefully lifted the vase from David’s hands. “It looks like a real treasure, but it’s not in very good shape, David,” she commented. “But I’ll tell you what, you leave it with me for a couple of days, and I’ll see what I can do with it.”
Two days later David was back again. His timid knock was soon answered.
“So you’re wondering about your vase, are you? Well, there it is over on the table.”
Stepping inside and seeing it on the table, a big smile spread over his face. Could this really be the same dirty, ugly-looking vase he had found on the trail? It was beautiful! It was clean and shiny, and Mrs. Weber had painted some flowers on it.
“Thank you! Thank you very much!” said David. Then taking his treasure from the table, he hurried home with it to give it to his mother.
Now Mother knew Mrs. Weber quite well, so you see the vase became an extra-special treasure to her. First, her son had found it, and then her friend had made it beautiful.
The Lord Jesus could see that we were lost and dirty in our sins. He knew we needed help, and He came to wash away our sins. We were “dead in trespasses and sins.” Ephesians 2:1. He picked us up off the trail, washed all our sins away, and gave us a new life that wants to please Him.
This is what the Lord Jesus has done for me. Has He done this for you? If not, then why not ask Him to wash away your sins so you will be fit for heaven. He wants to make you clean.
“Unto Him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood... to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5,6.
ML-10/10/1982