When the American Red Cross has a blood drive, more than 240 of the 585 people who populate the town of Mount Calvary, Wisconsin "have big hearts." They willingly donate their blood that lives of others may be saved.

"BLOOD IS LIFE" - "HELP SAVE A LIFE" are slogans often used to promote this worthwhile project.

Yes, "Blood is Life," and this fact is stated in the Bible: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul" (Lev. 17:11).

The greatest subject in the Bible is the "blood." It runs like a red stream from Genesis to Revelation. It is the very theme and vitality of the Christian faith, and the only remedy for the deadly disease of sin affecting every one born into the world. The Bible declares, "without shedding of blood is no remission."

This brings us to now consider the Greatest Blood Donor of all time. It is quite striking that generous blood donors in Wisconsin live in Mount Calvary, but their sacrifice is limited and only for physical well-being in time. This Greatest Blood Donor meets the spiritual and eternal needs of all who avail themselves of the remedy. He is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son, who willingly came to Calvary nearly 2000 years ago to shed His blood to make atonement for sin—to provide a remedy for the sinner.

As sinners (and such we all are without exception, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God", Rom. 3:23) we justly deserve to die and to be eternally separated from God. This is called the second death—in the lake of fire. See Revelation 20:10-15.

"The wages of sin is death; BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

The Lord Jesus shed His blood and died to pay the wages of sin we could never pay. Because He finished the work of redemption and satisfied a Holy God about sin, eternal life is offered to all and given to all who will believe on and put their trust in Him!

Because Jesus shed His blood, believing sinners are cleansed from their sins (1 John 1:7); they are forgiven (Eph. 1:7); they are justified (Rom. 5:9); they are reconciled and have peace (Col. 1:20); they have liberty to enter into the very holy presence of God (Heb. 10:19).

In eternity, sinners saved by grace through faith (Eph. 2:8,9), will sing "Unto Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood" (Rev. 1:5). And also, ascribed to the Greatest Blood Donor of all time, they will sing this song as well: "Thou art worthy . . . for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood" (Rev. 5:9).

Friend, will you be in that redeemed throng in heaven?

Saved through the blood of Jesus,
   Saved from the wrath to come,
Saved too to dwell forever
   Safe in the Father's home.
Joy is among the angels,
   Joy in the heart of God,
When an unworthy sinner
   Trusts in the precious blood.