I was a small boy when this truth was brought home to me in a very painful way. My dear father was very fond of gardening. He had a very sharp garden knife, which he forbade us children to use, and put it far out of our reach on the top shelf in the toolshed. But I noticed where he had put it, and when he went as usual to the office one morning, I said to my younger brother,
“Alfred, I know where that knife is,” and I climbed up to the top shelf in the toolshed and found it. “Here it is,” I said. “We will get some wood, and make some sharp swords, and play soldiers.”
Now my father had often warned us when using a knife, not to cut toward us but away from us, because if the knife slipped, we might cut ourselves badly. But, I thought I knew better than Father, so I took no notice of his warning, and did just what I was told not to do. I used the knife the wrong way, and, alas it slipped and I cut right through the nail into my thumb.
“Quick! quick!” I said to my brother; “hide it under that tree on the rockery.”
But it was too late; the truth had to come out, for the thumb bled profusely, and the nail was badly cut. It took a long time to heal.
There was no hiding it. My disobedience and naughtiness all came to light and I suffered for a long time through constant pain and bleeding. The wound has left its mark till this very day, more than seventy years! It reminded me years after of the words, “Be sure your sin will find you out.” Numb. 32:2323But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out. (Numbers 32:23). The sin has long been forgiven, both by God and my father, and I have proved the Scripture true, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9). God’s dear Son has died upon the cross, He has made full atonement for sin, and now God has a righteous basis on which He can forgive a sinner that believes in Him. God can now be JUST and the JUSTIFIER of him that believeth in Jesus. (Rom. 3:2626To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)).
ML 10/22/1961