White Christmas

Let’s be honest, who wouldn’t enjoy having a “White Christmas” sometime?  There’s something about the beauty and purity of snow that captures us.  How fitting that God, who created snow in all of its grandeur, would use it metaphorically to describe the cleansing of heart He can accomplish in sin-stained people.  With what hopeful enticements He calls sinners to repent!
“’Come now, and let us reason together,’ Says the Lord, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow…’” (Is. 1:18)

 

“Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”  (Ps. 51:7)

 

Paraphrasing and commenting on the above statement from Ps. 51, which is King David’s great prayer of confession following his great sins of dereliction of duty, adultery, murder, and deception, C.H. Spurgeon makes these observations:

 

“’None but thyself can whiten me, but thou canst in grace outdo nature itself in its purest state. Snow soon gathers smoke and dust, it melts and disappears; thou canst give me an enduring purity. Though snow is white below as well as on the outer surface, thou canst work the like inward purity in me, and make me so clean that only an hyperbole can set forth my immaculate condition. Lord, do this; my faith believes thou wilt, and well she knows thou canst.’ Scarcely does Holy Scripture contain a verse more full of faith than this. Considering the nature of the sin, and the deep sense the psalmist had of it, it is a glorious faith to be able to see in the blood sufficient, nay, all sufficient merit entirely to purge it away. Considering also the deep natural inbred corruption which David saw and experienced within, it is a miracle of faith that he could rejoice in the hope of perfect purity in his inward parts. Yet, be it added, the faith is no more than the word warrants, than the blood of atonement encourages, than the promise of God deserves. O that some reader may take heart, even now while smarting under sin, to do the Lord the honour to rely thus confidently on the finished sacrifice of Calvary and the infinite mercy there revealed.”  (C.H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David, Vol. 1, pg. 404).

 

Yes, a “White Christmas” would be special, but a heart that is whiter than snow, through the precious blood of the One who came to save helpless sinners, is of infinitely greater worth!

Rejoice the Lord is King!!

Rejoice the Lord is King!!

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV)

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  7Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.   

1 Peter 4:12-19

1 Peter 4:12-19 (NASB)

12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer, or a troublesome meddler; 16 but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? 19 Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

“Behold My son…Believe My word…Be My children.”

As we have recently seen from Jn. 20:30,31, God is continually declaring throughout His Word:  “Behold My son…Believe My word…Be My children.”  The blessings of eternal life are abundantly given to all who believe in God as He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ His Son, the promised Messiah!

Pastor C.H. Spurgeon, preaching in the late 1800’s, concludes his sermon on Jn. 20:30,31 with these encouraging words:

“I come back to my beginning and there I close—the one thing, the main thing, the only thing is that we hold on to Jesus Christ through thick and thin, through foul and fair, up hill and down dale, in the night and in the day, in life and in death, in time and in eternity—that we steadfastly believe that Jesus of Nazareth, who died upon the Cross, is the Messiah of God, yes, the Son of God, sent to cleanse away iniquity and bring in perfect righteousness! Whether we see Him on His Cross or on His Throne, all our hope, all our trust must be fixed in Him and so we shall live when time shall be no more!  Stay there, O true Believers, and let none entice you from your steadfastness!”

Amen!