They Shall Be As White As Snow
It was in one of our cities one Sunday evening that a young man was walking
along the streets, on his way to some source of pleasure, when he was accosted
by a person, who stopped him and handed him a small piece of paper and then
passed on. The young man took it to a nearby light, and read:
"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Isa. 1:18.
A sneer passed over his face and he hastened on. "`Though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow' does not apply to me, at any rate,
for I am an infidel, and do not believe anything of the kind," thought he.
But it was not so easily gotten rid of. "`Though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be as white as snow.' What's the matter with me? I can't get that thing
out of my mind. `Though your sins be as scarlet.' Sins? `Though your sins,' -
my sins, I suppose. But I don't acknowledge such a thing, - I own neither to a
belief in God, nor a future, therefore I am not responsible. `Though your sins
be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.' Sins made white? What do I
care to have my scarlet sins made `white' to use a figure, seeing I deny all
these things? I am an infidel! (Stamping his foot.) I neither believe in the
Bible, - the God of the Bible, the future, nor anything beyond the still dark
grave. So here's for a short life and a merry one."
"'Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow'! Why can't I
get that thing out of my mind? 'Though your sins be as scarlet!' Very forcible
and very practical language I admit. Certainly that Bible is a wonderful book
given for the sake of argument, that it is true, and that a God exists, I can
easily understand religious people who believe in a future, either of joy or
suffering, clinging to such sentences with a tenacity proportionate to their
belief.
"'Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow! ' Admirable
writing. Terse forcible language. I wonder who wrote it? God, I suppose? Why,
I forgot, there is no God. If I could only remember my principles, and how
logical and well founded the arguments are which support them, I should be all
right. 'Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow!' Will
nothing put a stop to this? Hello, What is this? A Gospel Meeting! What's
that? I might as well turn in and see. I don't feel like going to the theater
tonight; that thing has unnerved me. It's queer I can't get it out of my mind,
- `Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.'"
He entered and was shown quietly to a seat. A solemn silence reigned. It was
all so new to him. But the Spirit of God who had made such good use of His
Word already piercing like an arrow through the joints of his armour, had his
eye on the poor skeptic. The meeting had already begun, a hymn or two had been
sung, and earnest prayer gone up to God for guidance as to both subject and
matter. Was it mere coincidence, then, or was it in answer to the cry of His
own, that the Spirit of God led His servant that night to announce his text
just as our young friend got settled, and repeated the words:
"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they
be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isaiah 1:18.
Amazed, he sat and eagerly listened to the faithful presentation of the Gospel
that night. An after-meeting was held, for conversation with any inquiries
after the way of life. And among them that evening there was one who went
away, saying through his tears , "Lord Jesus, though my sins are dyed red
deeper than the deepest scarlet, I praise Thee that Thy precious blood has
cleansed whiter than the snow."
"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they
shall be as wool." Isa. 1:18.
"The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7.
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