Homepage message: March 2010

We’ve certainly had enough snow this year and have not seen the ground for at least three months. One good thing about the snow this year is it has remained fresh, that is, we haven’t been looking at icy, dirty, partially melted snow. It has remained clean. Of course spring will change all that, if it comes.

Not long ago I was driving on a very sunny day and was reminded by the sun’s glare how white and clean the entire landscape appeared; it was a sea of sparkling white. Underneath lie the dark, nearly-black soil of farmland and dormant brown grass in people’s yards.

Isaiah 1:18 popped into my head:

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” —Isaiah 1:18

God had made a strong declaration that Judah was guilty of chasing after sin and forsaking her allegiance to God.

“Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.” —Isaiah 1:15b-17

Here was a laundry list of offences the nation refused to correct. The Lord had every right to sentence them to death, but He summoned them before His divine court and offered a full pardon.

America and the world are no different than the people of ancient Judah. We are all guilty of selfish rebellion against God our creator. We, too, deserve the sentence of death, but God in His infinite grace and mercy offers a full and eternal pardon.

Notice He offers a pardon, He doesn’t give one unconditionally. We, like Judah, can’t go on living for ourselves pursuing sin and expect God’s forgiveness. The condition is stated clearly in Ephesians 2:8-9

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” —Ephesians 2:8-9

It is purely an act of divine grace, (unearned love and favor) and faith.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.” —Acts 3:19

Peter tells the crowd in Jerusalem that they need to repent. That means remorse for wrong behavior, words and thoughts; remorse that leads to confession and a desire to change.

Peter is saying to all of us, God is offering a complete pardon of all sin and guilt when we turn away from sin and turn the loyalty of our heart toward Him. It begins by receiving Jesus Christ, the acceptable sacrifice for sin, into our lives. Give the steering wheel to God, and then as Isaiah says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

Would you like to experience the purifying touch of God Himself and receive His full pardon?