White As Snow
Isaiah 1:18
"Come now, and 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 be as wool."
Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
What a beautiful time of year it is! Right now, if you look out your window, no doubt you are going to see snow, and lots of it! It certainly is pretty. The snow is nice to look at, and you know, it can serve as a reminder to us for something that comes straight out of the Word of God.
In the Old Testament the prophet Isaiah gives us a wonderful, wonderful thought. The verse in chapter 1:18 is so special. It says, "Come now, and 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 be as wool." - that beautiful white fluffy wool! White as snow!
I grew up in Michigan and snow was just a way of life - lots of it - everywhere! If we look at the snow, it is a reminder of the goodness of God. I can remember many times waking up in the morning and just looking out the window at the freshly fallen covering of snow. I do not think there is anything that is much prettier than that.
The Lord tells us that if we come to Him in confession, in repentance, He will take the ugly sins that we have in our life and wash them away, and make us as pure and as white as that freshly fallen snow. What a beautiful picture of God's forgiveness! Though our sins be like scarlet and crimson, God says, "I will get rid of all that. I will take it away and I will wash you white as snow."
David knew the meaning of these verses and found true grace in them and in God's mercy. In Psalm 51, after he had sinned and fallen into adultery with Bathsheba, he wrote about the Lord and said, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow."
David had accepted God's forgiveness for his repentance. I wonder, my friend, if you might be discouraged because of something you have done. Perhaps you are worrying that God will not forgive you. He says, "If you come to me I will take those sins, wash them away and make you as white as snow." David said even whiter than snow. My friend, if you are worrying, come to Christ in repentance. Let Him take those sins and wash you whiter than snow.
By Dr. Ann Shorb
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