White as Snow

Originally published on December 26, 2009 on Facebook.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they should be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be like wool.

As I sit at my desk and watch the snow fall outside, this verse came to mind. Although not scarlet, the white snow falling now is replacing the dirty snow that covered the ground for the past couple of days after all of the rain and melting. Everything is made fresh again.

The context of the Isaiah verse is startling. The prophet Isaiah is addressing Israel: God’s chosen people. The people have turned against the Lord, laden with sin and iniquity (1:4). The Lord compares them to and calls them Sodom and Gomorrah (1:10), the wicked cities destroyed with fire from heaven as recorded in Genesis. Yet, it appears that Israel continues to the do the outwardly religious activities, by offering sacrifices to the Lord and even calling out to the Lord in prayer (1:11, 16). Yet because of their sin, the Lord considers their empty sacrifices an abomination and will not listen to the prayers offered in sin (1:13, 15).

Isaiah then calls for repentance, a turning from their evil to do good and seek the Lord (1:16-17). Then the Lord will cleanse them and make them as white as snow and pour out His blessings on them. If not, consequences and judgment await for their sinful disobedience (1:19-20, 28-31). In the chapters that follow, Isaiah will expand on the pronouncement of judgment against their sinful disobedience, but also points ahead 700 years to the redemption of sin for all men who call on the Lord in the coming of the promised Messiah- Jesus Christ. His birth will be prophesized (chapters 7 and 9) and His sacrifice on the cross for the sins of man will be detailed in chapter 53. How marvelous!

After study this chapter I find myself considering several things. First, I must consider my own life, as one redeemed from my sins through the shed blood of my Savior Jesus Christ, and as one instructed in Scripture to be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). While I do outward actions in service to Him, are there still areas of sin in my life that He finds offensive which is affecting my relationship with Him and even my prayers? Are there areas that I need to repent of? Sins of worry and pride come quickly to mind. How I long to be conformed more into the image of my Lord and Savior! Second, my heart breaks for those relying on their outward religious activities in their effort to be approved by God, for He finds them an abomination and unacceptable apart from Jesus who: was wounded for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities; upon whom was the chastisement that brought us peace, and by his stripes were we healed. For we have all gone astray and turned his own way, but the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Is 53:5-6). Only by calling out to the Lord for the forgiveness of their sins through Jesus Christ’s perfect sacrifice can they be made acceptable to God, despite their best efforts.

As I watch the snow fall this Christmas weekend, I am so thankful to the Lord who sent His Son Jesus, born as a baby in a manger over 2000 years ago and went to the cross for my sins and bodily rose three days later so that while by my sins were as scarlet, He has made me as white as snow.