It was Saturday morning, and twelve-year-old Jane was busily dusting mother's bedroom. Everything must be dusted very carefully, for mother liked it done nicely.
There was the big walnut bed with its high old-fashioned head and foot, the tall chest of drawers that was almost taller than Jane herself, and finally the bureau with so many things that must be dusted and carefully put back in place. There was the clock, and a red velvet motto that she had dusted so many times that she hardly needed to read it for she knew every word so well.
But as she stood with her duster in hand her eye ran over the words, In Whom (our Lord Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)).
Hardly thinking of what she was doing Jane began to dust it. She was thinking of those words, “the forgiveness of sins.” How she longed to know that her sins were forgiven! She knew that she had many sins, some that no one else knew about except herself and God. For a long time she had wanted to know that they were all forgiven and that she was really saved.
Mother and father were saved. Her sister just two years older was saved too. She had told Jane how she had been so frightened one night alone in bed, thinking that the Lord Jesus might come for father and mother, but not for her, for she was not ready. Then the Lord had reminded her of John 3:16,16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Right then she had trusted the Lord and was saved. Now she too was ready for the Lord to come.
Jane rubbed the duster lightly, and just then a light seemed to enter her heart! Oh, how wonderful! The verse said her sins were all forgiven—”through His blood”! Forgiven! Gone! And gone too every doubt and every bit of fear!
Many years have gone by-we won't tell you just how many for you might know this grown-up girl-and now she is an older lady. But she is just as happy, and just as sure her sins are all forgiven for she remembers the Lord's own promise on the old red velvet motto: “In Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:77In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; (Ephesians 1:7)).