What fun to watch the kids building snowmen, having snowball fights, and sledding down hills on Sunday (we found the best hill at the track)! And not just the kids. There were a bunch of adults who took part in the winter festivities! My wife, Jan, kept making a truce with me to not throw snowballs at each other, only to break the truce on multiple occasions! Of course, I reciprocated. Our poor snowman was still standing this morning but leaning heavily to the left, as if looking around a tree. Snow simply lightens the heart and puts a smile on the face!
God uses snow as an illustration for a reason to rejoice! He said in Isaiah 1:18, “Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool” (NIV). The image of snow is used to show how clean our soul can be before the Lord. Though our sins may be the color of blood crimson or dark purple, they can be as white as snow.
The landscape yesterday completely covered in snow illustrates what the Lord meant with His words. The mud, sticks, leaves and trash were covered white with snow. The blanket of white was laid over the trees, ditches, rocks and pavement. Even the darkest of surfaces was made white with snow. Do you have any dark places in your past? Do you have any sins that have left a painful stain in your life? Are there decisions, actions or words that led to division, destruction or despair upon yourself or others? It is true that we cannot undo what we have done, but it is also true that we can be forgiven for every sin! John declared, “…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7, NKJ).
How does one receive such forgiveness? The prophet wrote, “Come now,…” This is an invitation. The Lord is inviting us to come to Him and receive what He alone can give – forgiveness. There is no forgiveness if you do not respond. Turn your eyes toward the Lord Jesus and ask Him to forgive you. John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9, NKJ).
He also said, “…let us settle the matter…” The New King James translates, “…let us reason together…” The fact is that we have nowhere else to go to find forgiveness. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross was God’s provision for our sins. Every sin is covered for those who come to Christ. The Bible says, “In Him we have redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7, NKJ).