Pure White

Since I was a little girl the word “pure” was my favorite word. More so than the meaning, I simply liked the way the word itself sounded. As I got older and better grasped the meaning of the word, I soon realized that there were few, if any, truly pure things in the natural world and living a pure life seemed even more of an impossibility.

Zechariah 3:3 talks about the high priest Joshua. “Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments.” In Biblical times, the high priest was the closest man to God. He gave the sacrifices on behalf of the people and, apart from prophets, was the only avenue of communication between God and the Israelites. He was held to the highest of standards and was arguably the most holy and righteous of men. Yet the Bible says that because of sin this man was found dressed in filthy clothes in the Lord’s presence.

You may feel that compared to that person you are unworthy. Or that you can never atone for your past and you’d rather stay where you are than expose any guilt; purity is unattainable.

Consequently, you feel defeated before you even try to know Jesus and God’s love. Personally, I believe that this is one of the strategies that Satan uses to prevent us from discovering our worth and receiving all with which God wants to bless us.

However, because of grace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ, God doesn’t leave us in our filth. “And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity(sin) away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments” Zech. 3:4. God sees past the filthy attire, under the layers of insecurity, through the walls of self-preservation, and says we are loved and desired by Him.

Sin binds us; it makes us feel trapped, dragged down, and in a constant struggle with life in general. This is not a coincidence. However, when you accept the fullness of God’s grace and salvation, dawn your “white gown” that we receive through forgiveness in Jesus, then all of the struggle melts away and we experience true freedom. The Bible says that there is freedom in Christ. Romans 8:1-2 says, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.”

I liken this feeling to the wrestling game my brother and I used to play with my dad as kids. My dad would wrap us up in his arms and our challenge was to ‘escape’ his grip. I remember getting so red in the face and sweaty as I struggled against his strength and then the frustration of almost breaking free only to be reeled back in and pinned to the floor, while my brother squirmed and fought beside me. Finally, we would find a hole in my dad’s strength, pry away his arms, and leap to freedom, victorious. After all the struggle and frustration, it felt so liberating to be able to move freely again and take a deep breath, free of the crushing weight of my dad.

Now, this story taken from my childhood was all in good fun, but I feel that it is a great analogy of the feeling we get when we enter into God’s freedom through the grace of His forgiveness. It is freely given; He wants to untangle us from the entanglement of sin and He extends this freedom to everyone. Don’t buy into the lie that you are unworthy, that you have to have your “ducks in a row” before approaching God, that you are “in too deep.” Nothing we do by the works of our hands can make us pure and blameless before God, but that is where the true beauty and freedom lies. We say “yes” to God and He does the rest.

“He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus 3:5-6

“According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

No one is worthy of God’s forgiveness and everlasting, fullness of life on our own. Yet each one of us wanted by Him, loved by Him, and through Jesus we have access to approach His throne completely blameless, free of guilt and shame, dressed in purity. Let me just take the opportunity to say here, in case no one has told you: God wants YOU; God loves YOU; God chooses YOU for His good and perfect work; God desires to give YOU the full measure His blessing; Jesus' blood has made YOU white as snow and consequently YOU are worthy to be called sons and daughters of the Almighty King. He’s extending His hand to us. All we have to do is call on the name of Jesus and receive Him.

“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Romans 5:2