Scarlet and Crimson Become White as Snow and Wool

His love brings us forgiveness. The stain of sin’s red becomes a pure and holy white.

February’s Awakening, Day 19

Forgiveness is the divine miracle of grace.  The cost to God was the Cross of Christ.

 —Oswald Chambers, “My Utmost for His Highest”

Once God preached to me by a similitude in the depth of winter. The earth was black, and there was scarcely a green thing or a flower to be seen. As I looked across the fields, there was nothing but barrenness—bare hedges and leafless tress and black earth, wherever I gazed. All of a sudden God spoke, and unlocked the treasures of the snow, and the white flakes descended until there was no blackness to be seen, and all was one sheet of dazzling whiteness. At the time I was seeking the Savior, and not long before I found Him, and I remember well that sermon which I saw before me in the snow: “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”

 —C. H. Spurgeon

“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. Isaiah 1:18 NIV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, Ephesians 1:7–9 NIV  

            Forgiveness is the most wonderful gift of grace that God could possibly lavish on us. Love and forgiveness go hand in hand. Just as love originates with God toward us, so too does forgiveness come from God. Without forgiveness, we would have no hope of reconciliation with God and would forever be lost and stricken from His presence. Sin separates us from the holiness of God and it is only the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross that allows us to be washed clean of the stain of sin and be reunited in our good standing with God. Salvation and forgiveness are given freely to all those who believe in God’s saving grace through Christ—neither are deserved nor can be earned or acquired in any other way than our faith and belief in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Because of His love for us, God forgives us and provides the way back to Him through His one and only Beloved Son. Grab hold of His free gift and enter into His presence and glory forever.