During a cruel and bloody war, a commander took an oath in the presence of his troops that he would slaughter the entire population of a certain town, and in due course the blood hounds of war were let loose on the defenseless people.

Now it so happened that a fugitive, seeking for a shelter, saw a sight, which was the indirect means of saving both his own life and lives of others. He spied a number of soldiers as they broke into a house, the inmates of which they put to the sword. But on leaving it, they fastened up the place again, and one of them, dipping a cloth into a pool of blood, splashed it on the door, as token to any that might follow, of what had taken place inside.

Quick as his feet could carry him, the poor fugitive sped away to a large house in the center of the town, where a number of his friends were concealed and breathlessly told them what he had seen. At once it flashed upon them how to act. A goat was in the yard. Immediately it was killed, and its blood sprinkled on the door. Scarcely could they close the door again when a band of soldiers rushed into the street, and began to slay the people. But when they came to the blood-marked door they made no attempt to enter! The sword--so they thought--had already entered therein and performed its work. Thus, whilst the many around were slain, all within the blood-sprinkled door were saved.

If you had lived in that dangerous area, I am sure you would not have hesitated a moment to take your place behind the blood-marked door once you knew such a chance of escape existed. Yet how many people are refusing an even greater way of escape than this. In the Bible God says, "For the wages of sin is death;" (Romans 6: 23), and "but after this the judgment:" (Hebrews 9:27).

We, because of our sins are subject to this death penalty, not from a war commander, but from a holy righteous God. But God has provided a way of escape for us by the blood of His Son, the Lord Jesus, on the cross. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;" (Ephesians 1:7).

Even as these people were sheltered by the blood of the innocent victim on their door so we also can be sheltered from the righteous wrath of God by the blood of Christ. God says, "and when I see the blood, I will pass over you," (Exodus 12:13).

As these poor fugitives took refuge behind the blood-marked door, will you take refuge in the blood of Christ, your only way of escape?