Call it Scarlet, Crimson, or Black

“Come now, let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be like crimson, they shall be as wool.”  Isaiah 1:18

Living in rebellion, God’s people had turned their backs on the One they vowed to love and obey; they were walking backward in their ways. God told them to stop bringing their gifts and sacrifices; their lives defiled the offerings; they were disgusting to Him. Why did God refer to their sins as scarlet and crimson and not black as darkness? Looking upon His beloved, chosen, but rebellious people, He saw their sacrifices' meaningless blood dripping from their hands. They performed the required rites, but their hearts were far from the God they claimed to worship.

No matter what color you call it, sin is dark, ugly, and offensive to God. Before you come into God’s presence, judge yourself first: Are you in rebellion and walking backward in your ways? No? Are you resentful towards someone? Do you have unconfessed sins? Is there something you know you are supposed to do but haven’t? That matter could be a right deed, or it may be a “thing” you must release. Regardless of the issue, our prayers, offerings, worship, and praise to Holy God are sin-stained, therefore, worthless, and offensive until we are in right-standing with Him. The remedy is the same today as thousands of years ago: Ask God for forgiveness and cleansing. Jesus’ blood that paid the price for the world’s sins still cleanses the darkest stains today. No matter sin’s color—scarlet, crimson, or black, His blood washes them white as snow, like wool.

Living in rebellion, God’s people had turned their backs on the One they vowed to serve and obey; they were walking backward in their ways. God told them to stop bringing their gifts and sacrifices; their lives defiled the offerings, and they were disgusting to Him.

Why did God refer to their sins as scarlet and crimson and not black as darkness? Looking upon His rebellious, beloved, chosen people, He saw their sacrifices' meaningless blood dripping from their hands. They performed the required rites, but their hearts were far from the God they claimed to love and worship.

No matter what color you choose to call it, sin is dark, ugly, and offensive to God. Before you come into God’s presence, judge yourself first: Are you in rebellion and walking backward in your ways? No? Are you resentful towards someone? Do you have unconfessed sins? Is there something you know you are supposed to do but haven’t? That matter could be a right deed, or it may be a “thing” you must let go. Regardless of the issue, our prayers, offerings, worship, and praise to Him are sin-stained, therefore, worthless, and offensive until we are in right-standing with Him. 

The remedy for sin is the same today as thousands of years ago: Ask God for forgiveness and cleansing. Jesus’ blood that paid the price for the world’s sins still cleanses the darkest stains of sin today. No matter sin’s color—call it scarlet, crimson, or black—His blood washes white as snow, like wool.