White As Snow
Today is a snow day! It's actually the clean-up day after the storm. I can hear snowblowers and shovels scraping the concrete outside my window. The birds and squirrels have come out of hiding from the harsh snow and wind of yesterday. The sun beams down on all the white flakes that have been compacted together. If you gaze up at the direct sunlight it can be almost blinding. The snow sparkles as the bright light reflects off of it. I'm reminded of the hymn, " White as Snow", where the words repeat, "'White as snow, white as snow though my sins were as scarlet, Lord I know, Lord I know that I'm clean and forgiven."
The words 'white as snow' are mentioned several times in the Bible. Isaiah 1:18 says, " Though your sins are like scarlet they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool." God used the prophet Isaiah to communicate to the Israelites that they had done evil in the sight of the Lord. They were idol worshippers, corrupt, close -minded, and rebelled against God. The Israelites were urged to think about what they had done. Even though their hands were "red with blood", God could make them white as snow. They could become clean! God is a patient God, a God of second chances. God gave them a choice to repent and be redeemed or continue in their sinful patterns and become an enemy of God. This would separate those unbelievers from those who would repent. There was still a small group of Israelites who put their faith in God, trusted Him, and found grace through Him. God was, and always will be a loving God who has mercy on his people.
It is only God who can make us white as snow, cleansing our crimson sin. It is only God that washes us and makes us whole again. There is nothing that we have done, no great a sin that we have committed that cannot be made clean by God. Christ already paid it all and shed his blood for you and me. All we are asked to do is to ask Him to forgive us, recognizing we need a savior and believing He is the only way, the truth, and the life! The final line of the hymn, "Through faith in you I know that I can be white as snow", reminds us that we can have his promise that through His power, He will cleanse us and wash us white as snow.
Friend, are you in a battle right now? Maybe you have thought about God, but don't think He could ever forgive you for the things you have done or said. There is nothing we can do on our own to change those things. But, I do know God loves you and He wants to hear from you. He wants to forgive and cleanse you. 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful, and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." God loves us so much that He sent His only son, Jesus to die for us. "Greater love hath no man than this; to lay down one's life for a friend." John 15:13.
Prayer: Father thank you for your love and compassion even when I don't deserve it. Forgive me when I fall short and have sinned against you. God I want to know you more. Show me more of you each day. Amen
Bible Verses:
Psalm 51:7 " 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."
John 1:29 " The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said, "Behold, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."
Psalm 51:2 " Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin."
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