Calvary Covers It All

According to an account by Alfred B. Smith, a beloved hymn was born in the early 1930s. During those days, Walter MacDonald stumbled along the streets of Chicago, IL, at the bottom of life. He had discovered the hard way what Solomon said so many years before, “The way of transgressors is hard.”

Walter had actually achieved some fame and recognition. He was an entertainer and loved the night life. He was especially known for his dancing, and people often referred to him as Happy Mac. Sad to say, he often looked for his happiness at the end of a bottle. He was a terrible drunk!

His life spiraled out of control. Once, people had cheered for Happy Mac, but now his career declined and the only friend he seemed to have was the drink.

One night, he found himself near the Pacific Garden Mission, a place which promised to receive people who had nothing, people like Happy Mac. He entered and found an older couple, Walter and Ethel Taylor, who were affectionately known as Pa and Ma.

Pa Taylor was a preacher of the Gospel, and preach he did! He told people who would gather at the Mission about the saving grace of Jesus Christ! He shared how that Jesus died on the cross for our sins, was buried, and rose from the dead! He urged people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Ma also loved to serve. She played the piano for invitations after Pa preached.

Happy Mac heard the Gospel that night, but he left. However, he found himself back again another night and another night. Ma Taylor noticed Mac, and she learned that he was an entertainer. A chord struck in her heart, because that was a life she had once lived herself. Her heart became burdened for this poor soul. She prayed for God to save him.

One night, Happy Mac came again, but this time, he did not leave. Rather, he came to the front at the invitation. Ma Taylor slipped off her piano bench and knelt beside of Mac, praying that God would help her to know what to say to him. She urged him to believe upon Christ, but he objected. With a heart of grief and guilt, Mac said that God would not save him. Mac said he had done too much in his life, and he was too far gone.

Ma Taylor thought for a moment, and she remembered a testimony she had once heard from an evangelist. That evangelist had said, “Calvary covers it all.” So, Ma repeated those same words to Happy Mac. For a moment, Mac was silent, and then he said, “Calvary covers it all.” The Lord began to open his eyes and his heart. Yes, “Calvary covers it all!”

That night, Happy Mac trusted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He believed the glorious Gospel message, and he found, indeed, that Calvary covers it all!

Ma Taylor could not get away from that experience. A short time later, she found herself at her piano, working on a song – a song that many churches still sing to this day.

Its title?

“Calvary Covers It All“

Verse 1
Far dearer than all that the world can impart
Was the message that came to my heart.
How that Jesus alone for my sin did atone,
And Calvary covers it all.

Chorus
Calvary covers it all,
My past with its sin and stain;
My guilt and despair
Jesus took on Him there,
And Calvary covers it all.

Verse 2
The stripes that He bore and the thorns that He wore
Told His mercy and love evermore
And my heart bowed in shame as I called on His name,
And Calvary covers it all.

Verse 3
How matchless the grace, when I looked in the face
Of this Jesus, my crucified Lord;
My redemption complete, I then found at His feet,
And Calvary covers it all.

Verse 4
How blessed the thought, that my soul by Him bought,
Shall be His in the glory on high;
Where with gladness and song, I’ll be one of the throng
And Calvary covers it all.