WE had been traveling all day long through a large city giving out tracts, those silent messengers of God's love, from door to door. At last we came to the large Soldiers' Home, situated on a high hill overlooking the glassy surface of old Lake Erie. Being quite tired we decided to stroll through this last earthly home of their country's defenders; so under the leadership of an old veteran we were soon on our way examining every little nook and corner, and besieging our guide with many questions.
Starting at the large airy bedrooms, our guide informed us that every man had to have his own bed made and room straightened before nine o'clock in the morning. Thence he led us through the sitting-room, parlor, and kitchen, until at last we came to the most interesting room of all—the laundry and huge clothespress.
“Here," our guide said, "is where each man is brought as soon as he sets foot in this building, and given a good wash and a suit of soldier's clothes.”
“Oh!" we replied;" then there are none admitted here without first being washed! What a striking picture of the Kingdom of God! There are none admitted there without first having their robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb.”
Yes, dear reader, washed, not with water, remember, but with the precious blood of Christ. Redeemed, brought nigh, reconciled, all by that same blood which Jesus shed at Calvary's cross for poor fallen man. Washed clean, made whiter than snow, made fit to enter into the very presence of a thrice-holy God, all through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He "was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification." (Rom. 4:25.)
Dear reader, one question. Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb? Do you realize that man is a fallen, ruined creature, alienated from God by wicked works? Have you ever honestly owned the sentence of God's Holy Word as to your own guilt and ruin? That "out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things that defile a man." (Matt. 15:19, 20.) Have you?
Ponder well these words from God's unerring Word: "It is appointed unto men once to die, but AFTER THIS the JUDGMENT.”
(Heb. 9:2727And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: (Hebrews 9:27).) As soon as man became a sinner, the divine decree of death was enforced. Death is in our midst continually. Every tick of the clock ushers hundreds of souls into eternity. But, thanks be unto God, He has not left us without an escape from the "wrath to come." "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." (John 3:16.) How sweet! What love divine!
With all earnestness, with all love for your soul, let me ask you, Do you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your own personal Savior? Not believe about Him, many do that and are lost forever, but do you believe on Him as your own personal Savior, as the Savior of sinners, as the One who fully satisfied God's righteous demands, when He cried "It is finished"? If you have faith in Him, then you may know that He has put all your sins away, "as far as the east is from the west," and you can sing, "Unto Him that loved us, and WASHED us from our sins in His own blood,... to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever." (Rev. 1:5, 6.)
Reader, do not rest till you can say you are washed in the blood of Jesus, saved by His precious death. Short of this you are lost. "Without shedding of blood is no remission" (Heb. 9:2222And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22)), is the plain declaration of God's Word. Go by the Book. Your own theories will not avail you in the hour of death. F. B. T.