Many of you may remember a famous Christmas song from years ago called "White Christmas". This Christmas we can all have a white Christmas thanks to the grace of God. No, this isn't a Christmas with lovely snow. This is a very different kind of white.
In Isaiah chapter 1 God spoke to the rebellious nation of Judah. God talked of nourishing and bringing up His children and yet they had become disobedient and rebellious. God spoke of donkeys and oxen as knowing who takes care of them, but apparently the people of Judah did not. The people of Judah performed religious ceremonies but their heart was not in them. Without obedience they were meaningless. They even worshipped other gods. God offered them a way out of judgment. In Isaiah 1:18 He said this to them,
“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."
The Lord told them they could use their reason to see that what He says was true. Even though their sins were many, if they repented and returned to obedience, they could avoid punishment. They would be purified as white as snow.
In Psalm 51:7 David cried out to God seeking forgiveness for his sins. He said, "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." David went on to say that he knew that what God wanted more than anything was a contrite heart. Contrite here means a person who is humbled by their own sins and failures. David understood that only God could purify him of his sins.
In 1 John 1:9 John tells us,
" If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
The purity that John refers to only comes from God's forgiveness. It is the same purity that Isaiah referred to that was "as white as snow". When we confess our sins, we acknowledge to God that we are personally responsible for sinning against Him. Christ's death and resurrection allows us to be reconciled with God (Ephesians 1:7). In Matthew 26:28 Jesus tells us that His blood was poured out for this very reason.
When we first come to Jesus, we come knowing that "while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) This is how much He loves us. His saving blood washes us clean; it purifies us like the whitest snow. We are never worthy. No matter how 'good' we are it will not be enough to purify us, only Jesus can do that. We can always come to Him for forgiveness. He was and is the perfect Son of God sent to save the world.
This Christmas I wish everyone a very White Christmas!
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