Clothed in White

By Steven Halter

Have you ever been pleasantly surprised when looking through the window to see snow falling and doing wondrous things outside? A dull and dreary day was unexpectedly and suddenly transformed into an exciting, lovely, and beautiful day. A drab landscape was turned into a delightful sight as it was blanketed with snow. Bare and seemingly lifeless trees were turned into marvelous works of art as they were decorated with brilliant white highlights.

Our own lives are like that. Like the seemingly lifeless trees, we were once dead in our sins (Eph. 2:1). We were spiritually separated from God and His kingdom.

But then we were cleansed of our sins through faith in Jesus, and were made alive (Col. 1:13). No longer dark and bare trees, we were clothed in white. We had been given the brilliant clothes of those who are in Christ (1 Cor. 6:11). We had become beautiful works of art.

Also, as we are delighted to see a beautiful winter scene, so God is delighted to see His work in our lives. We who once were unsightly, being his enemies, have been marvelously transformed by His grace into children of God (Rom. 5:10, John 1:12). And just as the trees did not cover themselves with powdery snow, neither can we claim credit for our transformation (Eph. 2:8-9). It is the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

We can give glory and thanks to God for what He has done in our lives. Because of His great love, He did not abandon us in a dark and helpless condition. He did not leave us in our sins, separated from Him. Instead, by His marvelous grace He changed and transformed us. He gave us right standing before Him, and made us part of His family. What a wonderful God!

May we allow the transformation in our lives to be a testimony to others of God's work. For the celestial snow that has fallen on our lives can fall anywhere. It can fall on other lives, changing souls. It can fall in China, Russia, Afghanistan, and around the world. May we testify with our words and our actions that God loves to change lives as His salvation falls like snow on believing hearts (2 Cor. 5:20).