“Now, let us reason together,” says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” ​

(Isaiah 1:18)

 

If you live in Colorado, you will see snow.  On occasions, a foot or more will come at one time.  Snow comes two ways in Colorado: horizontally and vertically.   Horizontally when accompanied by 100 mph winds.  Vertical snow is beautiful and peaceful.  When the sun’s rays bounce off of freshly fallen snow that not one paw, hoof, or foot, has trudged over—it is an awesome sight!

The righteousness of Jesus Christ is able to cover all that we have done.  Just like the blanket of snow covering a Colorado hayfield—our forgiving God wants to cover our sins.  Completely cover.

Some people try to do many, many good things in hopes that their good deeds will outweigh their bad deeds; and thereby get in good with God.  However, God doesn’t work that way!  God and God alone can take away sin.  God has written the rules.  His rules say there is no forgiveness of sins without the shedding of blood.  Before Jesus came to earth it is recorded in the Old Testament of the Bible that the sins of the people were forgiven when they brought an animal, typically a lamb, to the temple and it was killed by the priests for the forgiveness of their sins.  It cost the people something to be forgiven.  But then God sent Jesus, who willingly gave His life, so that all men who believed could be cleansed of sin. With Jesus the forgiveness of sin cost God something.  Because Jesus shed His blood on the cross, our sins can be made as white as snow.

Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood and I shall be clean again.  Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7)  The blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin.  If we confess our sins to God, God can be depended upon to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong. ​

(1 John 1:7-9)
 

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are adopted into God’s family.  God becomes our Heavenly Daddy. (Romans 8:15-16)  Some of us may have had earthly fathers that were less than kind when we made a mistake.  As a child, some may remember Dad’s severe punishment for making mistakes.  You can still hear his voice scolding and scolding and scolding.  Or Mom may have never let you forget your mistakes, and would be angry at you for weeks.  You may remember uncles and grandfathers as critical and condemning.  Maybe when you goofed you were told “you got yourself into this mess, now get yourself out.”  God, the forgiving Father, never treats his children like this.

God’s forgiveness is an awesome thing.  He doesn’t keep a list of our sins. (Psalm 130:3-4)  God not only wants to forgive us, He is ready to forgive.  He does this because He is full of mercy, goodness, and kindness. (Psalm 86:5)  God wants to blot out our sins and He says he will never think of them again (Isaiah 43:25)   we can depend upon our Forgiving Father to be merciful.  He doesn’t want to be angry with us; He gets no pleasure from punishing us.  He wants to pour out his kindness and goodness on us (Micah 7:18)   He wants us to come to Him in our time of need, so that He can give us gracious help. (Hebrews 4:16)  God works our mistakes and failures out for good if we love Him. (Romans 8:28)  He welcomes us with open arms when we turn from our sins. (Luke 15:11-24)

As an adult you may strive to be perfect because the pain from childhood mistakes has unbearable memories. The instant after you make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior you can know that when you sin, you can confidently run to your Heavenly Daddy.  You can depend upon Him to help you, to work out everything for good.  You can know that He will always be merciful, and kind to you.  Know that He won’t be angry with you;  He just wants to pour out His kindness and goodness on you.  Most of all know that when you love Him and humbly repent, He completely forgives you.