AS I toiled at my daily work in the noisy whirl of machinery, through my heart rang the words of my little daughter Nellie, “Sing ‘Happy day! happy day!’”
That morning she had come as usual to our room for a little fun, and had found her mother singing something in which she could not join. She said, “Sing ‘Happy day,’ mammy, sing ‘Happy day.’” Nellie is not quite three years old, but she has learned to sing, “Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away.”
Perhaps some of you, dear children, may say, “We also often sing ‘Happy day.’” But stay; do you mean what you sing? Remember it is when Jesus has washed your sins away that the happy day begins. Have you, dear children, had your sins washed away? All who go to heaven, whether young or old, are made whiter than snow, and unless you are washed in the precious blood of Jesus, which cleanseth from all sin, you will never enter that scene above, nor swell the song of the ransomed in glory.
Do not think, dear little ones, that by saving your prayers morning and evening, attending the Sunday-school regularly (good as these things are in their places), you will save your souls. No, no; there must be a coming to Jesus, and a confessing one’s sins to God, as David says he did, in Psalm 32:55I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. (Psalm 32:5). Then we shall receive the forgiveness which he speaks of in this verse. Let me tell you that when you have come thus to the Savior, you will have the witness within that you are a child of God, for “He that believeth on the Son of God has the witness in himself.” (1 John 5:1010He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (1 John 5:10).) Let me advise you not to rest satisfied until you know you are a child of God.
A young friend of mine was very anxious to find Jesus as his Savior. I had spoken to him several times about the way of salvation, and had quoted many passages of Scripture to him, but still he seemed in doubt and fear. However, one day, he looked very bright and happy, so I said to him, “John, when were you saved?”
“O!” he replied, “it was on that Sunday evening, when we sang ‘Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away’ at the enquirers’ meeting.” Since then, whenever we sing that hymn his face always brightens up at the sweet remembrance which it brings to his mind.
You see, dear children, the joy of the one, who knows his sins are washed away, is not only on that first “happy day,” but goes on through time and eternity.
Thus, amid the rattle of the machines, my heart kept tune to the sweet song my baby girl raised before I left home:
“O happy day, that fixed my choice
On Thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice,
And tell its raptures all abroad!”
And now let me ask you, in conclusion, shall my Savior be your Savior too? may never meet you on earth, but I should like to meet you in heaven, and that cannot be, unless you trust in Him now, and know for certain that His precious blood has cleansed you from your sins, and made you fit for the inheritance of the saints in light. Jesus invites you. He says, “Come.” Will you go to Him now, and say from your heart, “Jesus, I trust Thee to save my soul; I trust Thee now”? If this be true, you will gladly sing with us “Happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away.”
ML-10/17/1920