EARLY in this year I was called to the sick-bed of a relative, suffering from a, second attack of the Russian influenza. There was much prostration, and consequently great perspiration. One day I ventured to ask the medical attendant if the patient might not be wrapped in blankets before the fire, and the body quickly sponged. He replied, “No, I should fear a chill.” Then to assure me he was not unmindful of cleanliness, he said, “I wash my hands many times during the day, indeed I was saying to a friend only a few days ago I should like to die clean.”
Just then an interruption occurred, but I could not forget the doctor’s words, “I should like to die clean.” Yes, he would like to meet death with a clean body—that body that in the grave would so quickly become corrupt and crumble, but oh, what about his soul being clean! His soul that must live forever! Had he ever thought, I wondered, of the necessity, the importance of the cleansing of his soul to meet that holy God of whom Scripture says, “The heavens are not clean in his sight; how much more abominable and filthy is man!” (Job 15:15, 1615Behold, he putteth no trust in his saints; yea, the heavens are not clean in his sight. 16How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water? (Job 15:15‑16).) “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. Man dieth and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he?” (Job 14:4, 104Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one. (Job 14:4)
10But man dieth, and wasteth away: yea, man giveth up the ghost, and where is he? (Job 14:10).) The question indeed is, “Where is he?” If unwashed in the precious blood of Christ, he is awaiting the doom of the lost; but if thus washed, he “is clean every whit” on the Lord’s own testimony (John 13:1010Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. (John 13:10)).
I knew the doctor to be an excellent man morally, and seeking to do good from a moral standpoint― and truly this has its estimate, and value for earth, but morality in all its varied bearings has nothing to say to the soul’s deep need of reconciliation to God. All the moral stepping-stones used as a means of approach to God will one day be proved of the same material as the house built without a foundation in Luke 6:4949But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. (Luke 6:49). The Spirit of God also has written for our obedience, “Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar.” The altar typifies Christ. Man has nothing to bring to God, but his sins. “We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf” (Isa. 64:66But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. (Isaiah 64:6)).
One day I found the opportunity of speaking to the doctor alone―his remark continued to press upon my spirit, “I should like to die clean.” In the course of our conversation about the patient, I asked, “Doctor, are you a Christian?” “I hope I am,” he said; then he added, “I wish and try to be one.” Ah! well I knew he would have no doubt about it, and there would be no wishing or trying, if he were really converted to God. For God has said, “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly (not good people), his faith is counted for righteousness,” and “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.” The doctor had not tasted this blessedness for himself, so I spoke to him of the work of Christ, and gave him the well-known, and much-owned little book, “Safety, Certainty, and Enjoyment,” which he promised to read.
“By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Eph. 2:8, 98For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)). We get a beautiful illustration of this in 1 Corinthians 6:9, 129Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, (1 Corinthians 6:9)
12All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. (1 Corinthians 6:12). The two first verses contain a list of evildoers of almost every kind―then follow the samples of grace, “And such were some of you; but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”
Beloved reader, do you know what it is to be washed, sanctified, and justified? Can you say, “Unto him that loves us, and has washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us kings, and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever, Amen” (Rev. 1:5, 65And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5‑6))? Time is fleeting, Christ is coming quickly, death is here, still the invitation goes out, “Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.” Oh, dear soul, be in earnest, tomorrow may be too late. Come to Christ now-He has said, “Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out.” L. L.