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!