HEIDI was just a very little girl, but she had become anxious about her soul’s salvation, and she wanted to talk to an old friend, a gospel preacher, about the matter. I knew that aged Christian, and can almost fancy I see him now on the platform at the children’s meeting, with his snow-white hair and beautiful smile.
So one day little Heidi went off to where the preacher lived. It was a big house, for his father had been very wealthy. But her courage failed her when she arrived there, and being a very timid little maiden, she trembled very much. Such a faintness had come over her that she feared her face would look very pale, and so she rubbed her hands up and down her face to try to get a little color into it.
But oh dear! she had forgotten that she had put on a new pair of black kid gloves, and unfortunately, some of the dye had come off on her face, and made her look so funny!
The old preacher took her into his study and managed to keep a grave face all the while he talked with her. After telling her of the Saviour’s love to children and prang with her, he told her “Goodbye,” and said very kindly, “Before you go home, you had better go into the wash room and take a look in the mirror; you’ll see you have some black on your face.”
So away she ran wondering what it could be.
Mary, the maid, could not help laughing when she saw Heidi, who was astonished to find what a state she was in.
“How could it have happened, Mary?” asked the little girl.
“Why, dear, it must have come off your black gloves.” And then Heidi remembered how she had rubbed her face.
Now this little girl had a black face, but she did not know it. However when she looked in the glass and saw how black it was, she was most anxious to have her face washed clean.
And how many children there are who have black and sinful hearts, yet they are not aware of it, although the looking glass of God’s holy Word plainly declares that all are sinners, that “there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:22,2322Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23).
Soap and water soon got rid of the black marks on Heidi’s face, but only the blood of Jesus can cleanse our hearts from the black stains of sin. Jesus died and shed His precious blood to wash away sin’s stains, to take away our guilt before a holy God, and all those who put their trust in Him as their Saviour are clean and white in His presence. Can you say as did David of old, “Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow"? Psa. 51:77Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7).
ML-05/13/1973