Be washed by the water of the word and His blood

“Scotland's Great King”

My heart was stirred as I heard A. H. Stewart tell a story of Scotland's great king Robert Bruce. On one occasion he was fleeing from the English soldiers of King Edward. They were almost upon him, and he realized he was not maintaining the speed he should, so he left the path and started through the thick forest, hoping to escape. He ran mile after mile thinking that perhaps, at last, he had eluded the vengeance of his foes, when suddenly he heard a sound that caused his heart almost to stand still. It was the baying of his own bloodhounds. He knew the English had let loose his hounds and put them on their master's track, and the animals that might be supposed to be doing Robert Bruce a favor in running him down were leading his foes to the place where he was hidden. He knew now that all was over with him, unless he was able to put something between himself and the dogs to throw off the scent.

Spent and worn, he toiled on several more weary miles until he came to a clear rapid mountain stream. He plunged in and then hastened down the stream a mile or so and came out on the other side of the forest. There he hid from the sight of his pursuers and listened as the hounds came to the water and ran up and down, baying and crying out for the scent. The water had washed it away. They were unable to follow their master, and Robert Bruce escaped from the vengeance of the enemy.

Oh, my friends, there is only one stream that will wash out the scent of sin, and that is the precious blood of Christ that cleanses from all sin. All who come to Jesus, all who trust in Him, are forever free from the judgment their sins deserve. So David tells us that the time came when it was impossible for him to hide his own sin, impossible to cover his own transgression, and he says, “I 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” (Psalm 3 2:5). We read that “If 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).

-Henry A. Ironside