Many are the sins of the people of God, and each one would be enough to send them to hell. However, God devised means whereby His banish would not be expelled from Him. These sins are comprised of every kind and represent a black and polluted condition before God. Isaiah informs us of the condition of Israel who had turned their backs upon God and their sins were very grievous before God. Then Isaiah tells us of the transformation that God would perform concerning sin. “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.” (Isa. 1:18). God compares sin to the colors of scarlet and crimson, but they are become white as snow and white as wool. White is denoting the purity and cleansing that comes through the blood of Jesus Christ. Our own righteousness are as filthy rags before God, but God clothes us with the robe of righteousness through Jesus Christ. Isaiah also tells us we can rejoice in our change of raiment: “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isa. 61:10). The apostle John declares us the bride of Christ is now arrayed in fine linen of white and just exactly what this entails: “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” (Rev. 19:8). We have been washed in the blood of the Lamb of God; we have been washed white as snow. We could not wash ourselves because we were black and polluted, but Jesus was the means by which we are washed and made white as snow, even though our sins were scarlet and crimson. When Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James and John, His raiment was shining white as snow. (Mark 9:3). We get a glimpse of the glory we will have in heaven some sweet day because Jesus has washed us from our sins and made us white as snow. Praise the Lord for His wonderful works toward the children of men!–May 7, 2012–Elder Larry Wise
