One morning, going by train to an appointment in France, I found myself sitting opposite to a native of Africa. He was evidently of a high class and had been well educated. In a conversation with him, he told me that he had traveled from Western Africa to see for himself what art and science and education had done for Europe—how far they had raised it above his homeland. He spoke with the animation natural to his race, and became quite eloquent.
After listening to his remarks, I said: "Well, all over Europe, wherever you go, notwithstanding all that art, science and education have done—and they have done much to raise man in the social scale, and much to embellish and adorn and otherwise improve this world (from man's point of view)—you will find sin, and misery, and death in the land, even as in Africa. For, notwithstanding all the things which man has at his command, and all the 'many inventions' he can boast of, he is powerless to blot out any of these sore evils.”
"Oh, yes," said he, "nothing but 'the blood,'—nothing but the blood of Christ can do that.”
There we sat, the black man and the white, both by nature children of wrath, but both, through infinite grace "washed," "cleansed," "made nigh" by the precious blood of Christ, and together we could rejoice in the love of God manifested in the gift of His Son.
I walked some little distance with my newly-found brother, and then we parted, perhaps never more to meet in this world. What joy to be able to look forward to that day when all the blood-bought people of God will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air! No longer shall we bear distinctive marks of nationalities; but as children of God we shall be "like Him," for every one of the redeemed will see Jesus, His Son, as He is. Then we shall all join in a hymn of praise to Him, the Lamb of God, saying: "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and halt redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." Rev. 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9).