In first John chapter 1 and verse 9 there is a wonderful assurance when it says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
Many years ago, Walter and Ethel Taylor, were running the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, Illinois and became known as Ma & Pa Taylor. During one of their evening services, a man slipped into the back of the auditorium who like many others was under the influence of alcohol. He did not respond to the invitation that night but did keep coming back other evenings. As it turns out, his name was Walter MacDonald who was a professional entertainer and known to many as ‘Mac’. Ethel Taylor herself had been in the entertainment world and began to pray specifically for Mac.
A few nights later, Mac responded to the invitation and came to the front. From Ethel’s vantage point as she played the piano, it was obvious he was struggling. She motioned for someone to take her place and she went to be with Mac. She heard him pray, “But you don’t understand; you don’t understand how bad I am, Lord.” Remembering a testimony, she had heard recently, Ethel said, “Mac, Calvary covers it all – all the sin of your past life.” Mac asked her to repeat that…Ethel did. That was the assurance he needed to hear. After a moment of realization, Mac became a new creation in Jesus Christ. He went on to become an evangelist and his testimony led others to understand the love of God too.
Ethel could not get this experience out of her mind. A few days later she went to the chapel piano on her own and wrote this wonderful hymn of assurance and truth…CALVARY COVERS IT ALL.