Wallace was different from most artists. He did not have a special room where he painted, nor did he travel around the island where he lived to find beautiful scenes to paint. Wallace had his canvas, colors and brushes in a hospital ward.
Mr. Albert, a Christian preacher, sometimes visited this island and went to the hospital to read the Bible to the sick people there. For many years Mr. Albert had a picture of a beautiful sunset scene on the wall in his home that Wallace had painted from his window in the hospital ward.
One day Mr. Albert visited this island hospital with two Christian ladies, Pearl and Shirley. They sat at one end of the ward singing hymns and reading the Bible to Wallace and other patients. As Mr. Albert read and told of the love of God, he heard a little gasp from Pearl and Shirley. Then he saw where they were looking.
At the other end of the ward, something was moving under a white sheet. The sheet completely covered the person in that bed. Soon up came a poor, blind and horribly disfigured man. You see, every man, woman and young person on that island and in that hospital was a leper! Some were so terribly disfigured that they spent day and night under a white sheet so that no one could see them. You would have gasped too if you could have seen that poor man.
Why do we tell you this? Wallace, the artist, and that poor blind man at the other end were both lepers. You could not see one sign of leprosy on Wallace, but the other man was pitiful to see. Both, however, had the same disease.
Maybe you also have seen some pitiful people: a homeless person, a drunk lying in the gutter, a woman in prison - and then you have also seen some fine people. They are “good neighbors” or “nice church people.” Maybe some put on their best clothes and walk with a Bible under their arm. But in the sight of God before whom all shall stand, they are all sinners. “For there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:22,2322Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: 23For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:22‑23).
Wallace looked just fine and could paint beautiful pictures, but he was a leper just like the other man. Maybe you are growing up in a Christian home and know many verses or even whole chapters from the Word of God. But God still says, “There is no difference.” Everyone is either a lost sinner and on the road to hell or else a saved sinner and on the road to heaven. Even if you are one of the best students at your school, you still need the same remedy for your sins that the worst troublemaker in your school needs. “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).
Could you imagine how foolish it would have been for Wallace, the artist, to refuse to accept any treatment for his leprosy just because there was someone at the other end of the ward who was much worse? No, Wallace realized that the remedy the other man needed was the same one he needed. Do not refuse to come to the Lord Jesus to have your sins washed away just because you know someone who is worse! “There is no difference . . . for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:12,1312For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Romans 10:12‑13).
ML-09/19/1993