I SAID to my little family one morning, a few weeks before the Chicago fire, “I am coming home this afternoon to give you a ride.” My little boy, Willie, clapped his hands. “O, Daddy, will you take me to see the bears in Lincoln Park?”
“Yes.” You know boys are very fond of going to the zoo. I had not been gone long when my little boy said, “Mommie, I wish you would get me ready.”
“O,” she said, “it will be a long time before Daddy comes.”
“But I want to get ready, Mommie.” At last he was ready to have the ride, face washed, and clothes all nice and clean. “Now, you must take good care and not get yourself dirty again,” said Mother. Of course, he was going to take care; he wasn’t going to get dirty. So off he ran to watch for me. However, it was a long time until the afternoon, and after a little he began to play. When I got home, I found him outside, with his face all covered with dirt.
'"I can’t take you to the park that way, Willie.”
“Why, Daddy? You said you would take me.”
“Ah, but I can’t; you’re mud all over. I couldn’t be seen with such a dirty little boy.”
“Why, I’se clean, Daddy. Mommie washed me.”
“Well you’ve got dirty since.” But he began to cry, and I could not convince him that he was dirty.
“I’se clean; Mommie washed me,” he cried. Do you think I argued with him? No. I just took him up in my arms, and carried him into the house, and showed him his face in the looking glass. He had not a word to say. He could not take my word for it; but one look at the glass was enough; he saw for himself. He didn’t say then he wasn’t dirty.
Now the looking glass showed him that his face was dirty. But I did not take the looking glass to wash his face with. Yet that is just what thousands of people do. The law is the looking glass to see ourselves in, to show us how black and sinful we are in God’s sight. But many take the law and try to wash themselves with it. But this won’t do, for “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” Rom. 3:2020Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:20).
The law can’t take away sins. If one tries to improve himself by keeping the commandments he will find how strong sin is in him, and he will sin all the more.
Only one thing in heaven and earth can take away sin’s stain, and that is the blood of Jesus. “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). May each of us know the power of that precious blood which washes whiter than snow.
ML-06/07/1970