Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow

Debilitating gilt, crushing guilt, is toxic. It eats away at our insides, takes away our joy and peace, and leaves us desperate, empty, alone and isolated, and in great emotional and spiritual pain. It is a major source of depression and can in fact drive us crazy. The imagery of scarlet in this quote from Isaiah 1:18, conjures up the sense of being deeply stained. Scarlet and crimson were dyes that were not easily washed out. Scarlet speaks of blood, and as with the English phrase “caught red handed” speaks of blood on your hands after murder. The phrase “white as snow” on the other hand, speaks of purity and innocence. White bridal gowns speak of the same thing, and can legally worn by those this verse is talking about, innocent in the Worlds eyes, or not!

Though the sins this verse speaks of clearly includes murder, it not restricted to it as indicated by the words “as” and “Though.” In other words there is no sin so serious (murder or sins every bit as serious as murder) that the Lord cannot forgive and cleanse so that, in His eyes, it is as if we never sinned. There are three things we can do with guilt. We can deny it, we can medicate it (with a multitude of addictions including keeping busy), or we can accept the invitation the Lord gives in this verse. He invites us “Come let us reason together” and goes on, as in the title of this post, to assure them that if we listen and obey Him, He will take away our guilt and leave us in , His eyes, as pure and as white as freshly fallen snow.

It is an invitation into relationship, and to partake of His offered salvation. This flies in the face of what many of us were taught, namely that God is out to get us, just waiting for us to mess up. The opposite is true, He is waiting to be gracious to us (30:18). And it is in relationship with Him, in His unconditional love and acceptance, that not only is our guilt taken away, but we are cleansed from all sin (1 John 1:9). I strongly suspect that there are those reading this, that you know what I am saying in your head, but it has not yet penetrated into your psyche and your emotions. And likely it needs to begin with you forgiving yourself, and then marinating in His love and His embrace. As with all forgiveness it is often a process, and starts with a decision of the will. When we obey the feelings will eventually follow.

Father, the prayer “I give myself a gift I don’t deserve” comes to mind. And since all forgiveness is undeserved it is by grace that we forgive and are forgiven. So when we tell You that we don’t deserve to be forgiven, You ask us “So what is your point?” And actually we may need to repent of being unwilling to forgive ourselves, because when we are unwilling, we are essentially saying that the death of the Lord Jesus was not enough punishment for our sin. And we are in effect trampling His blood under our feet (Hebrews 10:29). So help us Lord to have mercy on others and on ourselves in Jesus Name Amen