White as Snow

This morning I gazed out of the kitchen window, and everything from the rooftops to the car tops to the ground was white as snow. Those were exactly the words that came to me—“white as snow”—which led me to think of the song. I’m sure many of you know the classic hymn with this refrain: “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe; sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow.”

Some of you may even recall the Kirk Franklin version from the mid-90s. That’s the one that was in my head. I hadn’t heard the song in more than a decade but over and over it played, moving me to rummage through my CD collection until I found it. Earphones snug on my ears, I cranked up the volume while everyone was asleep, and by the third repeat, my hands were raised in full worship mode.

White as snow.

I know why I was moved to worship. Only a month before, I had gotten active on Facebook and have been loving the mini-reunion happening among my college friends. Days before, I had peeled more than one hundred pictures off of sticky album pages, scanned them, and uploaded them onto Facebook, jumpstarting lots of buzz. The old days were fresh…the old memories fresher…the great feelings mixed with…well, regret.

I was reminded who I was way back then. She was staring right back at me, the young woman who made all of her choices apart from the Lord. The young woman with the crimson stain.

King David knew about crimson stains. As the king of Israel, he committed adultery with Bathsheba, then conspired to have her husband killed in battle (2 Samuel 11). When he finally came to a place of repentance, the grief overwhelmed him. “My sin is ever before me,” he said. “Against You, You only, I have sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight…” (Psalm 51:3-4).

But he also knew his “sin problem” didn’t start with the adultery. He was born in sin (51:5) and needed God’s help to change. He pleaded, “Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me and I shall be whiter than snow” (51:7). Once delivered, he knew his tongue would “joyfully sing” and his mouth would declare God’s praise (51:14-15).

That’s why I was worshipping, because I didn’t have to linger in that place of regret. I’d been washed. White as snow. Those crimson stains had been cleansed by the blood of Jesus. I could actually rejoice as I looked at that young woman in the pictures, knowing God’s grace was about to overtake her life. I could declare God’s praise because I’d been delivered.

How about you? Is there something in your past that you regret? Have you been forgiven by God, washed whiter than snow? If so, don’t live with the regret. Forgive yourself. Rejoice over the wondrous work the Lord has done in your life.

If you haven’t asked the Lord to forgive your sins—or you’re just not sure where you stand—ask Him to search your heart. The prayer below can help you get started, but please don’t hesitate to contact me. I’m more than willing to walk with you.

Heavenly Father, I know that I’m a sinner and that Jesus died to save me. I pray that You would forgive my sins and create in me a clean heart. By faith, I bow the knee to the risen Lord Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Savior of my life. Thank You that the blood of Jesus cleanses me from sin and makes me whiter than snow. Thank You that I don’t have to walk with regret over the past because You’re able to make me brand new. I desire to commit my life to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.