IT was Christmas morning. The great peal of bells from St. Isaac’s Cathedral, St. Petersburg, rang out their chimes. The falling snow had covered everything outside with a mantle of white, and there was an exhilarating freshness in the air. The keen frost had converted the great River Neva into one expansive bridge that stretched from shore to shore. On its icy bosom a continual stream of traffic poured in all directions. Even steel rails were laid upon the ice for an electric car.
Comfortably seated in a sleigh, we found ourselves that morning gliding over the ice and snow to the other side of the river, a distance of nearly a mile. We were not out on what the world would call a pleasure trip, yet there was real pleasure in it—the exceeding great pleasure of telling the story of a Saviour’s dying love to those poor, downtrodden Russians, who were eager to drink in the blessed message of life.
After a four-mile drive we arrived at our destination on the outskirts of the city. It was no magnificent building where the message was to be told, but in a simple yet good-sized work-room, which was crowded with eager faces waiting to hear the old, old story. To most of them it seemed altogether new. A hymn heartily sung commenced the meeting. Unlike our English Gospel meetings, some of the congregation, instead of the preacher, opened with prayer. That morning the opening prayer arose from the lips of a young man of about nineteen summers. Oh, how he prayed! It ran something like this, ― “O God, I am burdened. Month after month I have longed to be free of my load. When shall I be saved? I have come here once again to get peace for my troubled heart. Oh, God, I must have it this morning. I cannot live longer unless I get peace for my soul.” Tears streamed down his face. Strong men wept as he pleaded, and “Amen, Amen” resounded from one end of the room to the other.
Our simple story was easily told that morning, for it is easy to preach under such conditions. Luke 7, and the history of that poor, sinful outcast who sobbed her heart out at the feet of Jesus, her deep need, and His exceeding great love, were subjects that occupied our attention. His words, “Thy sins are forgiven thee,” fell with heavenly charm on her poor, sin-distressed heart. She believed them, and unquestioningly thanked Him and went on her way rejoicing in the Saviour.
Our meeting closed, and we found ourselves seated by the side of this same young man. With tears coursing down his face he said, “Oh, how can I get rid of my sins?” We pointed him to Jesus, and Jesus only; to His precious blood in all its solitary dignity and atoning worth. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). Do you believe He died for you? we asked. “Yes,” was his reply. Do you believe the blood of Jesus cleanses from all sin? “Yes,” was his answer. What does it cleanse us from? “All sin,” he replied. Whom does it cleanse? “Those that believe,” he said. When does it cleanse us? “The moment we believe.” Quite right. Now, we asked, do you believe He died for you? “Yes,” he answered. When? “Now.” What, then, does the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse you from? “All sin,” he answered. How many? “All sin.” When? “Now.” Are you sure? “Yes.” What makes you sure? “Why, Jesus says it in His Word.” A beam of joy lighted up his hitherto sad face. A simple expression of gratitude flowed from his lips. “Thank God,” he said, and off he bounded to carry the glad tidings to his home.
The great transaction was done. A seeking sinner and a seeking Saviour had met. One to confess his guilt, the other in sovereign mercy to say, “I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgression for My own sake, and will not remember thy sins” (Isaiah 43:2525I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins. (Isaiah 43:25)). Blessed words!
Now, dear reader, may I put this question to you: How does the momentous question of your sins affect you? Does it hang as a great burden on your heart as it did with my young Russian friend? Every throb of your beating pulse bears you nearer and nearer to eternity. You must meet God, and this question, which hitherto you may have sought to evade, will be thrust upon you. The smallest speck of sin will bar your entrance to the holy presence of God. Cleansed you must be, if you would see “the King in His beauty.” No personal merit will gain you admittance. No pleading of past good intentions or pious deeds will suffice to effect an entrance. You must be cleansed, undefiled, and fitted to be there. What can give you that fitness? Nothing but the blood, the precious blood of Christ. By it we are forgiven (Col. 1:1414In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: (Colossians 1:14)), cleansed (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)), justified (Rom. 5:99Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Romans 5:9)), made nigh (Eph. 2:1313But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Ephesians 2:13)), robes made white (Rev. 7:1414And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14)). By it heaven will be peopled with a blood-bought host, who shall eternally praise the Lamb once slain. Will you be there to join in that heavenly Te Deum? Will your songs of praise mingle in the holy chorus? Then you must be washed, cleansed, and sanctified. Take, then, my friend, your true and befitting place at the feet of Christ. Own your guilt and sin. Confess it to Him. Tell it all out in His ear. None knows you so well as He; no one could deal with you so kindly as He: if you confess your sin (mark! not pray for forgiveness, but confess your sin), He is faithful and just to forgive you, and to cleanse you 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)). You will then hear Him say, “I have blotted out as a thick cloud thy transgressions, and as a cloud thy sins. Return unto Me, for I have redeemed thee” (Isaiah 46:22). May this blessedness be yours is my earliest prayer. J. H. L.
“What can wash away my stains?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
So that not one spot remains
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”