Over the course of one week, the weather in my area went from a snowstorm that dropped over seven inches of snow on a Monday to a day closing in on sixty degrees on Friday. Only in Minnesota, I say! Now don’t get me wrong – I love sunny spring weather but I have to say I really enjoyed that seven-inch snowfall. Why? The color.

I absolutely love a new snowfall that is clean, fresh and dazzling white. I love that stage when the sky finally clears and the sun shines down on the snow to make it glisten to the point where it seems almost electric. Monday’s snowfall was much like that on Tuesday morning – Tuesday was the brightest, sunniest day I’ve seen in months here, and combining those clear skies with the seven-inch snow made me rush to buy a new pair of sunglasses.

Sparkling, dazzling, brilliant, blinding white. I think the white I saw on my yard on Tuesday was the whitest thing I have seen to date. But I also know there is a shade of white that is far brighter, far more dazzling and far more brilliant that I can even begin to fathom. That’s the hue of the pure-white robe of Jesus our Lord, and the garment of holiness that He fashioned for me.

Isaiah chapter one gives us a glimpse of this hue in a word from the Lord:

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the LORD, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 18:1)

You and I, when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, have this invitation from the Lord. It’s an invitation to remove all of the old, filthy, sin-stained clothing we’ve come to know and replace it with the garment of snow-white holiness by His grace. We also have this reminder from Psalm 51 – a reminder that the invitation is not just from the Lord, but the garment of holiness is to be the object of our hunger and longing:

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (Psalm 51:1-2,7)

Think about it now. When we are washed clean by the blood of Jesus, we are washed as white as snow. Even whiter than snow, according to David’s psalm. Because of Jesus and his death and resurrection, my life will shine even brighter than the blinding snow currently on my yard – a brilliant, sparkling, dazzling white show of holiness that only Jesus could produce and only He could give. That thought stuns me and brings me to my knees. How could I possibly be found worthy of this great honor, this great grace? I’m not worthy, but God in His infinite love and mercy chooses to give it to me anyway. My prayer is that my life would indeed be a reflection of His holiness and love and grace. I hope and pray that is your prayer, too.

The snow in my yard is just about gone now, melted away by the incredible warmth of the springtime sun today. I say we give our praise to God whose grace and mercy never, ever fade away. Now, off to find those shades….

In His grip of grace,
Beth