White As Snow

A couple of weeks ago, it was my responsibility to put out direction signs for my church’s Sunday morning service.  It had just snowed the night before and I was driving to put the signs in the correct locations when God dropped something into my heart.  I happened to be admiring all the freshly fallen snow that had completely covered the ground and God whispered in the silence of the moment, “I have covered all your mistakes and failures and see you as white as snow.”  The Bible says 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. In essence, God was saying, because I had placed my trust and confidence in Jesus Christ and what He did for me on the cross, God sees me as if I had never sinned.  God has covered my mistakes with the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  Jesus lived a sinless life on earth and died a horrible death on a cross to take the place of the consequences of my sin.  Then He rose from the dead conquering the power sin had over my life.  The Bible says, “Well then, as one man's trespass [one man's false step and falling away led] to condemnation for all men, so one Man's act of righteousness [leads] to acquittal and right standing with God and life for all men.  For just as by one man's disobedience (failing to hear, [a]heedlessness, and carelessness) the many were constituted sinners, so by one Man's obedience the many will be constituted righteous (made acceptable to God, brought into right standing with Him).  But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God's unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded, so that, [just] as sin has reigned in death, [so] grace (His unearned and undeserved favor) might reign also through righteousness (right standing with God) which issues in eternal life through Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) our Lord” Romans 5:18-21 (Amplified Bible).  I cannot earn a right relationship with God nor can I be good enough.  I simply need to believe that Jesus’ death and resurrection paid the price for my sin and allowed me to come near a Holy God and experience His presence, love and acceptance! 

Again the Bible says, “For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning. Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God's unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]” Hebrews 4:15-16 (Amplified Bible). 

Do you find yourself struggling to forgive yourself for past mistakes?  Or are you having trouble letting go of an offense of someone that has hurt you?  Maybe you believe that God could forgive someone else, but you have made one too many mistakes to enter into God’s presence and feel His loving arms of acceptance.  When you place your trust in Jesus Christ, God takes away your sin as far as the east is from the west and looks at you as if you were white as snow!  You can come boldly to Him in prayer because of what He did for you.  Receive His forgiveness.  As you experience His unconditional love, extend it to others who do not deserve it either.  I pray that God will give you the strength and power to overcome any obstacle in the way of His best for your life and that you truly understand your worth and value to God.  He paid a huge price to set you free.  Will you invite Jesus into your life and experience freedom from sin and a right relationship with God?  Will you BELIEVE that what He did for you is enough?  Will you walk it out?