Joyce what have you done?” exclaimed Mother.
There stood baby Joyce, with a puzzled and troubled look on her little streaked face, clutching in one fat hand a sticky, empty brown bottle. She had seen the brown bottle on the shelf and somehow had managed to reach it and loosen the top. It was such fun to pour the sticky brown liquid over her hands, rub it over her rosy cheeks, even to taste a little and then spill the rest; down her legs and over her little bare toes.
“Oh baby, baby, what shall we do?” said Mother. She tried to wipe the little stained hands but even after she had rubbed and scrubbed, the brown hands were no cleaner and the little brown face was still sticky and stained.
So Mother filled the bath with warm. water and tried again, rubbing and scrubbing with soap and a brush, but it was to use. The brown stains would not wash. off. Joyce cried and stretched out her arms to Mother who lifted her out and patted her dry, and said,
“We can cover them up, my baby, but we cannot wash them away.”
She carefully covered the big brown stains with fragrant white powder and baby Joyce smiled again as Mother tucked her into bed and laughed at her white little hands.
But next day the white powder was gone and the brown stains were still there—next day, and for many, many days. Soap and water couldn’t wash them away and nothing could really cover them up.
Dear children, do you know of something else that soap and water cannot wash away and that cannot be covered up? It is SIN. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:2323For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23). You have sinned; and the stains of sin are on your heart, and you cannot wash them away. You may weep as little Joyce did; you may try to cover them up, but they are there and God sees them. “All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:1313Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13). Only one thing can cleanse your sin-stained heart, dear children.
“What can wash away my stain?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me white and clean?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
Will you come to Him today and say,
ML 10/29/1950