Yesterday morning, Memphis woke up to a light dusting of snow. The Nelson family celebrated it; we enjoyed hot chocolate and a warm breakfast. By the time the kids got home from school, the snow was only a morning memory.
Isaiah 1:18 says:
“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” (NLT)
The snow described in this passage cannot be compared to our November snow, but I often fall into the trap of believing it does. I wonder if any of you have the same trouble celebrating and truly believing how totally forgiven we are.
I cherish the peace that comes with confession. It is one of my greatest joys as a Christian to be fully aware of my sins… to know how desperately I need a savior…and then to be assured in scripture that Jesus paid the price for my sins. I rejoice when it is preached, retweet it when Tim Keller posts it, and leave my quiet time ready to let my gospel light shine when I meditate on this truth in the morning, but then I get in carpool line or lose my patience or grumble. I lose sight of the cross when I swim in guilt over sins that keep causing me to stumble. I am ashamed of my thoughts and actions and that shame clouds the beautiful truth and vision. The snow that covered my sins only seems to manifest as a Memphis November snow. It is a snow that does a temporary job of camouflaging, but only lasts for a short time.
My feelings and ideas about my big sins and the ineptitude of snow to cover them is a crock. Our mean and clever enemy loves to steal our peace and joy. He lives to get us off track. He wants us to wallow in shame and hopelessness. He is the one who tells us that the snow isn’t enough. We are foolish to believe that God’s forgiveness is temporary or too light. Our sins were dark and gross, but because of Jesus, they are now white as snow. It is a done deal!
In Romans 5, Paul reminds all of us about the permanence and finality of our forgiveness:
“Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, He died ONCE to break the power of sin.” Romans 5:6-10 (NLT)
Dear friends, You are a new creation. Your sins have been made as white as North Pole snow. Rejoice in your forgiveness and do not confuse your cleanliness with the pitiful Memphis snow. God’s forgiveness is an avalanche of blessing; so don’t mistake it for a snow dusting.
Have a great weekend!