Whiter Than Snow

Psalm 51:7 – Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (NKJV)

Since we moved into town a couple of years ago, I am now, when the weather permits, able to walk in a populated area of the town. Late last summer, on my walks, I would see a number of residences where the yards were not well kept. Some were overgrown, others had junk all around the yard, and a few of them looked quite messy. Then all of a sudden, we had a big snowfall, and overnight, everything ugly was hidden. The yards all had the same pristine look. The ugliness was covered by a foot (30 centimetres) of snow, and nothing covers like snow or is whiter than snow.

The words "whiter than snow" reminded me of the description of Jesus' transfiguration:

Mark 9:2-3,7 – Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. His clothes became shining, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!" (NKJV)

As we watch the news, as we read the newspaper, and as we look around our towns and cities, we are made aware that a lot of people are like the yards in some of the houses that I pass on my walk, with bad habits, power trips, greed, theft, lust, murder, and persecution of innocent people. Lives are cluttered by undesirable situations. Quite often, we despair. But there is the good news of Scripture: we can be washed whiter than snow!

1 Corinthians 6:10-11 – [Neither] thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (NKJV)

There is a hymn which puts these thoughts into words so well:

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul;
Break down every idol, cast out every foe —
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
       – James L. Nicholson

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we pray that You will speak to all of us who have situations in our lives which are not in accordance with Your will. We pray that You will cleanse us with the blood of Jesus, so that we, too, can be whiter than snow. We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen.

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