What A
Difference A Day Makes
By Jeannine Sawall
“Come now, let us
settle the matter,” 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 (NIV)
Going
to bed last night, the winter landscape was drab and brown. We were missing the
usual snow that blankets the lawns and so we were left with cold, dormant
grass, bare trees and a pretty barren view out our window. However, a few
inches of snow fell during the night and when I woke up this morning, the
landscape had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Bare branches were now
blanketed with snow, the lawns were no longer cold and dismal but covered by the
wintery whiteness. What a difference a day made!
As
I drank in the beauty of the true Wisconsin winterscape now outside my windows,
it reminded me of what a difference a day with Jesus makes in our life. Before
we come to know Him, our lives are a landscape of dark, drab colors where
everything that is unsightly is out in the open before God. Once we meet Jesus,
our lives our completely covered. Our hearts are covered with His love. Our
sins are now covered by His blood. Our future is now covered by His promise of
eternity. Our mistakes are covered by His forgiveness. Just as the snow covers
everything that is unsightly and bare during winter, Jesus’s love is powerful
enough to cover (forgive) the things in our lives that are unsightly and barren
due to sin. Our sin is no longer an unsightly stain, but we have been washed
white as snow by the precious blood of Jesus!
With
the new fallen snow, the sun then reflects off it, illuminating with a thousand
points of light. Similarly, the Son reflects Himself in our lives, giving off
His light to a world still barren and unsightly. As followers of Jesus, we are
called to be a light in the darkness. We are called to reflect His glory and
His compassions every day.
A
fresh snow makes all the difference to a barren winter landscape. A fresh
meeting with Jesus makes all the difference in a barren heart. Whether we have
never met Jesus or have we have a spiritual life that needs to be refreshed, take
the time to let Him come and change the current landscape. He alone will bring
a fresh perspective to our lives. He alone
will cleanse us white as snow and He alone can cover us with His grace, His
love and His light.
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
In what ways does your spiritual landscape need refreshing?
2.
How do you reflect the Lord to the world around you?
FURTHER
READING:
Jeannine is a wife
and busy mother of four boys. She works in property management, serves in Oakwood’s
Café and has a heart for those walking through grief.
