Whiter Than The Snow

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool”  Isaiah 1:18

It’s no secret that I like snow. I know there are negatives, but I can’t get over how beautiful and totally white it is. Sadly, especially in the city, the snow doesn’t stay pure white very long. So, look quickly! Take a good look – because that’s how white you can appear in the eyes of God, even if your sins are scarlet red.

Isaiah 1:18 is a scripture that provides great hope. It actually begins, “Come now, let us reason together, Says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Is 1:18 ESV). Our minds quickly remember our sinfulness – how not pure white our souls are – so God begins, “…let us reason together…” He’s not saying, “Let’s argue about this…”, He’s saying think about this reasonably. There are many things that affect how we view sin, and some of them cause us to feel too sinful to be forgiven, unworthy of God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice. God wants us to set all those overwhelming thoughts, desires, and excuses aside. With God, we CAN be cleansed. EVERYONE CAN BE CLEANSED!

Sometimes we get discouraged with our lives or with our attempts to serve God. We sin. And when we learn about or remember God, He is so perfect and so pure and it’s intimidating. It’s that picture of the red coat against the pure white snow background. We’re not alone feeling this way. At one point, when the apostle Peter realized who Jesus really was, Peter fell down at Jesus’ feet and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord” (Lk 5:8). But Jesus didn’t leave. Jesus led people to know that He is the Son of God, to trust Him, and then to the cross to understand God’s love, grace, and total forgiveness. That’s love, grace, and total forgiveness for everyone – for those whose sins are like scarlet and red as crimson.

Sometimes we get discouraged without our lives our with our attempts to serve God. We sin. And when we learn about or remember that God’s people are forgiven, it’s intimidating. We feel different among them. We feel we have to hide who we are or run away. This feeling isn’t new. Christians had to be reminded in Romans 3:23 that, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Christians are whiter than the snow spiritually only because of forgiveness in Christ. They once were just as dirty as everyone else (Ep 2:1-4; 1 Co 6:9-11). This is how believers see themselves and they see the cleansing unbelievers can have through faith in Jesus. When we see our sin, instead of looking for a place where crimson red blends in, we need to come to Jesus who will wash us whiter than the snow. Only He can do this. Only we can come to Him for cleansing. When it snows look how white it is, and think about it.    dd