Let it Snow
Is 1:18
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
The first chapter of Isaiah is basically God convicting His people of sin. It is far beyond accusatory. In verse 18, God extends the offer of grace. Then, He warns what is going to happen to His people if they do not accept the offer of forgiveness. Read it...it is not pretty.
Snow is a picture of divine forgiveness. It comes pure and white from heaven like frozen spiritual manna. We can't dictate to the cold, the clouds, and to the snow where it is to fall and when. It comes down, we receive. Simple.
There is always a cause and effect when God's grace takes a hold of us. This inevitably leads to the fires of Hell in our souls being chilled. There should be an external manifestation of peace like coolness resulting. We can't chill the brimstone alone. Or efforts are futile and foolish and fraudulent. We are to extend grace to others as we have received grace from God. Acts of compassion and charity must fall like snow from the skies.
We can no more throw snow into the heavens than we can be right before God in our efforts. We are always in the responsive posture. When God offers to reason with us, be sure that the conversation, if it is to end well, will be us agreeing with God on every point. There is no negotiation as if we have any right to dictate terms. In a democratic age, that does not sit well with many. Nor should it. We want to think we can fix our problems. Lurking in this premise is pride.
If we are to talk the Psalms as a guide, we can ask hard questions. But we had better be prepared for some hard answers. I found this work to be a comprehensive outline of this line of thinking.
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."
The first chapter of Isaiah is basically God convicting His people of sin. It is far beyond accusatory. In verse 18, God extends the offer of grace. Then, He warns what is going to happen to His people if they do not accept the offer of forgiveness. Read it...it is not pretty.
Snow is a picture of divine forgiveness. It comes pure and white from heaven like frozen spiritual manna. We can't dictate to the cold, the clouds, and to the snow where it is to fall and when. It comes down, we receive. Simple.
There is always a cause and effect when God's grace takes a hold of us. This inevitably leads to the fires of Hell in our souls being chilled. There should be an external manifestation of peace like coolness resulting. We can't chill the brimstone alone. Or efforts are futile and foolish and fraudulent. We are to extend grace to others as we have received grace from God. Acts of compassion and charity must fall like snow from the skies.
We can no more throw snow into the heavens than we can be right before God in our efforts. We are always in the responsive posture. When God offers to reason with us, be sure that the conversation, if it is to end well, will be us agreeing with God on every point. There is no negotiation as if we have any right to dictate terms. In a democratic age, that does not sit well with many. Nor should it. We want to think we can fix our problems. Lurking in this premise is pride.
If we are to talk the Psalms as a guide, we can ask hard questions. But we had better be prepared for some hard answers. I found this work to be a comprehensive outline of this line of thinking.
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