For more than 30 years now, I’ve been in the preaching profession. That’s long enough to have learned a few things about the power of a good illustration.

Illustrations help people to understand important principles. They help people to remember what they’ve heard. And they keep people awake.

When I say, “Let me illustrate that point,” people’s heads come up and they begin to focus once again on the message.

So let me share with you one of my all-time favorite illustrations. There seems to be good reason to believe that at least some version of the following account is true. And I believe that this illustration will help you to understand (or better appreciate) a basic doctrine of the Christian faith.

The story involves the great 19th century American evangelist Dwight L. Moody. Moody was an exceptionally powerful speaker and a well-known public figure in his day. Whenever it was announced that he would be speaking in a particular location, people would come from far and wide to hear him.

One evening a little boy, walking alone, approached the door of a large church where Moody was scheduled to speak. But an usher at the door stopped the boy, who was small, dirty and ragged. The usher told him to run along.

The boy explained that he wanted to see Mr. Moody, but the usher flatly refused to let him enter. The little fellow, totally downcast, walked into the shadows by the side of the building and began to cry softly.

Just then a carriage pulled up to the church. A large man got out and moved toward the door. Suddenly he stopped as he heard the sound of crying. He walked over to the small boy and asked him why he was upset. The boy explained that he had come to hear Mr. Moody, but wasn’t allowed inside.

The big man smiled and said, “So you really want to hear Mr. Moody tonight?” “Yes, sir!” the lad replied. “Well, I believe that I might know how to get you in.”

With that, he gathered the little fellow into the folds of his flowing cloak until all that was showing was his small face. Together the two of them walked up to the door. The usher looked sternly at the urchin. Then he faced the man and mumbled quietly, “Good evening, Mr. Moody.”

The famous preacher and the destitute lad entered the building and walked right up to the platform. Reaching the pulpit, Moody said, “Now, my boy, you sit there.” He put the lad on a chair reserved for himself, and for the entire evening that little fellow listened to the great evangelist preach the gospel.

Of course the gospel that Moody preached that evening was the gospel of Christ – namely, that every poor, dirty, sinful soul in the world can enter heaven and find access to God if, but only if, they come “in Christ.” Jesus alone can make people acceptable to God (Ephesians 1:6 King James Version, John 14:6 New American Bible).

Human pride resists the truth that all of us are inherently sinful (Psalms 51:5) and in need of a savior (Ephesians 2:1). New Age religion promotes the idea that we have all that we will ever need deep within ourselves.

That’s not what God says. In his sight all of even our best qualities and efforts to be good are like dirty rags (Isaiah 64:6, Romans 3:9ff). No one measures up to God’s perfect standards.

One hymn writer who understood this principle wrote: “Nothing in my hand I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling; Naked, come to Thee for dress, Helpless, look to Thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly, Wash me, Savior, or I die!”

Historic Christianity has always taught the doctrine of human sinfulness on one hand and forgiveness in Christ on the other. “In Christ” alone an individual can be cleansed and made acceptable before the holy personal God who is there.

Those who understand, believe and act on this truth by accepting God’s free offer of grace in Christ are able to experience spiritual liberty for the very first time. Many lives have thus been revolutionized by the gospel of Christ. One such life was that of the very minister in whose church the account above occurred. He is said to have related the story, and then said, “I know that the story is true – because I was that little boy.”

The Rev. Daryl E. Witmer is pastor of the Monson Community Church and founder and director of AIIA Institute, a Christian apologetics organization. He may be reached through ChristianAnswers.Net/AIIA or AIIAInstitute@aol.com. Voices is a weekly commentary by five Maine columnists who explore issues affecting spirituality and religious life.