Whiter Than Snow

by Jamie Gunter

Psalm 51:7

“Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”

My dear Eric grew up not understanding what a skunk smelled like. Bless his heart he was clueless until we moved to the foothills- then he got more than enough of the stench. As did our shepherd Jake- he was skunked several times. When I think back to those late nights in the cold holding a squirming, disgusting, smelly dog as we battled soaping him up and rinsing, I feel queasy and shiver. I felt like I would never be truly clean again. 

Maybe you’ve felt like this- dirty, disgusting, unclean to your core. Impure and unworthy. I know. We all know. Those amazing Christian people you know who are perfect… no. No- they are unclean, disgusting, and dirty… UNTIL. Until they realize Christ has made them clean. Spotless and pure white, like newly fallen snow. WHITER than newly fallen snow. This is the power of Jesus. He loves you so much He became dirty, disgusting, mutilated so that you and I could be whiter than snow. 

Praise God. Listen to Him whispering to you friend. He asks for your tiny seed of faith in Him and He will grow you into something beautifully amazing. You may be in the depths of stench, wretched, awful sin, decisions you know are dirty and dark. BUT He is here! He is among you, walking, whispering, loving. He hears you and sees you. Listen, Look, Reach out to Him. You do not have to walk in darkness- unknowing, questioning, feeling dirty. Be made new! You can be made clean just by asking for the grace and forgiveness Christ provides. 

There is no greater news in this season of Easter, this spring season of new growth. All of us, whether new to faith in Christ or years in, make dirty, disappointing decisions. We all must kneel before Christ and confess our uncleanness and ask for Christ to forgive us and wash us new again. I am so thankful for God’s faithfulness through His son, Jesus. That though we are unclean, impure, dirty and sinful, He is so willing to wash us new and clean so that we can be in His presence as spotless, whiter than snow. 

Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool. - Isaiah 1:18