Mr. Grant was visiting in a small village and had been talking to the children there. Some of them thought that when they were baptized, their sins were washed away. To show that this was not so, Mr. Grant offered a prize to anyone who would wash a piece of coal white.
Of course he wished to show that our hearts were like coal, black all through, and that outward ceremonies, like sprinkling of water, could never cleanse away sin. There must be the washing in the precious blood which can only take place when the sinner comes to Jesus, believing upon Him who died for his sins.
However, three children tried to win the prize, and each brought a piece of coal which they had tried to wash. One boy had tried all morning. He had used cold water, then hot water, then soda and different kinds of soap, but the coal remained as black as ever.
So Mr. Grant used this simple means to show the children that sin cannot be purged away by ceremonies, like washing. Just as the Scriptures say: “For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before Me, saith the Lord God.” (Jer. 2:2222For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord God. (Jeremiah 2:22).)
That precious blood, shed on the cross, atoned for sin; and all who believe are freely forgiven and are clean in God’s sight.
What can wash away my stains?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
So that not one spot remains?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
Oh, precious is the flow,
That makes me white as snow!
No other fount I know,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus!
ML-03/12/1978