Whiter Than Snow by Randi McNiel

In late February, Texas was slammed with a snowstorm. My other daughter, Kari, showed pictures of snow 3 to 4 inches thick in San Antonio where it doesn’t usually snow. Their pool was covered with a thick layer of ice, and snow remained on the ground for 4-5 days. She remembered what Carole had said about the snow casting light even after dark, and when she looked out her upstairs window at night, she found it to be true. It was like it never really got dark.

“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.” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV)

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb; you taught me wisdom in that secret place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:1-7 NIV)

My daughter, Carole, lives in Colorado where it snows. She mentioned being up late one night and looking out her window. There were very few lights, yet it didn’t seem dark. The snow appeared to cast a light to everything around it. Kari later reflected on the passages in Psalm 51:7 and Isaiah 1. When we confess our sins, God will forgive us and make us whiter than snow–clean, fresh, and pure. We will then be able to reflect His light in a dark world.

That thought brought a whole new meaning to me of forgiveness. Not just to erase our sins, but to be renewed, to go forth—to reflect His light in a dark world.