Somewhere in France, one mow dreary Winter day during the World War, two Allied soldiers stood looking out of the barracks at the unhappy landscape. One was named Sam—, a big native of Africa, who felt the bitter cold more than his British friend. Suddenly Sam's dull expression changed and his black face was animated with excitement. It had started to snow!
"What's the matter, Sam?" asked his friend. "Oh, white rain!" Sam replied in an awed whisper.
"That's snow, man. Have you not seen snow before?"
"Never. We have no snow in our country."
As the snow continued to fall thick and fast, Sam ventured outside. His delight knew no bounds as the fleecy flakes fell upon him and transformed the bleak countryside into a wonderland of white.
His British friend, who was a Christian, watched him for several minutes, and then asked: "Sam, is there anything whiter than snow?"
"Yes, sir," answered the black soldier reverently, "the soul that is washed in my Savior's blood is whiter than this beautiful snow."
"Where did you hear about that?"
"Away in my country. The missionary teach me about Jesus— how He shed His blood for me. And we sing together:
"Whiter than the snow!"
"See my hands— big black hands? Just like my big black sins. Now look!" Sam bent down and when he stood up his hands were completely covered with snow.
"Oh, the grandness of it!" he exclaimed. "Black sins all gone, never to be remembered any more —washed all white in the blood of the Lamb."
And the two soldiers, one black, the other white, shook hands as brothers in Christ Jesus. They had learned the great lesson, that no matter what color the skin, the precious blood of Jesus alone can cleanse the sinful heart.
Until I saw the blood,
'Twas hell my soul was fearing:
And dark and dreadful in my eyes
The future was appearing;
While conscience told its tale of sin,
And caused a weight of woe within.
But when I saw the blood,
And looked to Him who shed it,
My right to peace was seen at once,
And I with transport read it;
I found myself to God brought nigh,
And "Victory!" became my cry.
"When I see the blood, I will pass over you."