-January 7, 2023-
Good morning, happy Saturday,
“‘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 1:18).
In our first lesson yesterday we saw how God loves colors in our races, in the rainbow, and in all living things. Colors play such a vital part in our lives. God created a beautiful world but also a colorful one. I am sure that heaven will be even more beautiful and colorful. Today’s verse actually has four colors in it: scarlet, white, red, and crimson.
• Scarlet and Crimson – The color scarlet is a very deep red, and crimson is even a darker red. We all know what happens when you spill wine, grape juice or blood on a piece of clothing. It just won’t come out, so we discard it. Our sins were as scarlet and crimson. There was no hope for us. We were born in sin and conceived in iniquity. We were thus sinners by position and by practice. We were separated from God, dead in our trespasses and sins, without God and without hope in this world. We were lost and dead spiritually. Jesus came down and shed His precious blood to save from our sins.
One of my favorite hymns is entitled, “Nothing But the Blood” by Robert Lowry. It says, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. For my pardon this I see — Nothing but the blood of Jesus. For my cleansing this my plea — Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Nothing can for sin atone — Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Naught of good that I have done — Nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my hope and peace — Nothing but the blood of Jesus. This is all my righteousness — Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” The chorus says, “O! Precious is the flow that makes white as snow; No other fount I know, nothing but the blood of Jesus.” Satan and all his wicked demons hate the blood of Christ because it completely defeats them. All our sins, past, present, and future are all under the blood.
• White – White is the most beautiful color when it is unspotted, unsoiled, uncontaminated. Jesus washed us white as snow. White in the Bible speaks of righteousness, holiness, and purity. When God sees us now, He sees us through His Son Jesus Christ. We are cleansed from our sins and clothed in the righteousness of Christ. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” We also read in Ephesians 5:26-27, “That He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing. How great is that?
On the Mount of Transfiguration Jesus glory shone through to Peter, James, and John. Both Moses and Elijah were also present. Jesus’ garments shone like the sun and became as white as light. Revelation 1:14 tells us, “His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like a flame of fire.” One day we will go to heaven and see Him, and we will be dressed in white robes of righteousness.
Let us thank God for the blood of Jesus and His righteousness. These two colors, red and white are the most prominent in all Christianity. They serve to remind us what we have in Christ now and for all eternity. Have a blessed and colorful day. Stay safe and healthy.
Cleansed by His blood, and dressed in white robes of righteousness,
Dean
Dean Allen's Daily Devotional 