Hard to believe that here in South Texas we are experiencing our second snow of the winter. Times and seasons seem to be changing. Now, I no longer care for the cold weather, but there are really few things more beautiful than a field of fresh fallen snow, one that is undisturbed, pristine in its beauty. No matter what the earth looked like underneath, it is now white. It could have been a pasture, or a field of dirt, but now all that is seen is the clean, whiteness of snow.
“Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;
I want Thee forever to live in my soul;
Break down every idol, cast out every foe—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
–James L. Nicholson
The idols may be there; the foe may attack and try and thwart our lives. But if we let the Lord perfect us we shall be like that pristine snow that has fallen. I’ve always thought it amazing that the red blood of Jesus washes whiter than the snow. It brings the holiness of God into our lives to drive out all temptation and evil. It cleanses the sin that darkens our heart and soul.
“Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,
Apply Thine own blood and extract every stain;
To get this blest cleansing, I all things forego—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Coming from Colorado, I grew up with snow. The winter months were sure to have snow; actually anytime from September through April there could be a snowstorm. Funny thing, I don’t remember having “snow days” back then, and we sure had some doozy storms. My hometown of Boulder is very well known for its wind; add that to snow and there is a blizzard. Snow can drift because of the wind and pile up. Maybe that’s what needs to happen with some of the darkened souls out there. They need a good pile of “snow” to land on that darkness.
“Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies,
And help me to make a complete sacrifice;
I give up myself, and whatever I know—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat,
I wait, blessed Lord, at Thy crucified feet,
By faith for my cleansing, I see thy blood flow—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
I can remember playing outside until my hands would ache. It’s a wonder that I never had frostbite. The ears were kept warm with a sock-hat, but in a snowball fight, or playing “king of the mountain,” or sledding, the gloves could get wet. When that happened the fingers would start to go. Of course, my worst enemy, even as a kid was cold toes. When the toes hurt, it was time to come in from the snow, no matter how much fun we were having.
Then there was the job of shoveling the snow off the walks. That quickly became my job. Most of the time, if you stayed at it and didn’t let it accumulate it wasn’t so bad. I’ve heard of many, over the years, who have had heart attacks while shoveling snow. One thing a person doesn’t have to fear when being washed whiter than snow is cold ears, fingers, or feet. They won’t have a heart attack, nor even a cold heart, because the only affects will be a new heart that is now whiter than snow.
“Lord Jesus, Thou seest I patiently wait;
Come now and within me a new heart create;
To those who have sought Thee Thou never said’st “No”—
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
The blessing by faith, I receive from above;
Oh, glory! my soul is made perfect in love;
My prayer has prevailed, and this moment I know,
The blood is applied, I am whiter than snow.”
Notice that the beginning and ending of each verse are pretty much the same. Nothing can help us much until we accept the fact that Jesus is Lord. When He become “Lord” of our life then the dark stain is removed. When He washes us with His precious blood we are made whiter than the snow. Now, ponder that for a minute. I have never seen snow, when it falls, in a darkened stage. After sitting on the ground with all the elements and when it begins to melt then it may get dirty and sooty. But that fresh fallen snow, laying in a field, is white. Tell me then, what can be whiter than the snow? The life and heart that has been cleansed by the Lord Jesus.
“Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow,
Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
Can you see it? Can you feel it? That freshness, that beauty, that clean, wonderful air that is present when the snow falls. Can you see it? Can you feel it? That freshness, that clean-feeling of a heart that has now been made whiter than the snow.