If you live in a cold climate, as I do, you’ll have noticed that Winter has a way levelling us out.

It shows us we’re all in the same boat.

Let me explain:

No matter how rich or poor you are, you’re going to have to deal with snow one way or another. If you live in a cold climate, there’s no escaping this fact.

Whether you drive a snazzy, expensive car or a modest runabout, winter has a way of making all vehicles look rather crappy. No matter how much you paid for your car, road salt and slush will cover it with an ugly grey-brown film.

And despite searching high and low for the most fashionable winter parka, you’ll still end up looking like an Arctic explorer, indistinguishable from everyone else.

Winter has a way of humbling us.

I think sin has the same sort of levelling effect.

Whatever walk of life we come from, we’re all going to have to deal with our Sins somehow. There’s no escaping it.

No matter how wealthy or poor we are, when sin sticks to us, it makes all of us look rather stained. Whether a pauper or a prince, the muck of sin covers us all.

And even if we try to gussy up our image and paper over our sins, it simply doesn’t work. We’re fooling ourselves if we think we’re any better or different than anyone else.

When it comes to sin, we’re all in the same boat.

The good new is that Jesus has provided a remedy for our sin problem.

Thanks to His atoning work on the Cross, Jesus is able to Offer us the indescribable gift of forgiveness of our sins. When we believe in Him, our sins are washed away, wiped clean from the slate. They’re no longer held against us. Instead, we are able to “borrow” the perfect record of Jesus Himself, because His perfection is imputed to us when we accept Him.

“Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2)

Our loving Heavenly Father offers you an opportunity to be cleansed of your sins. He offers you redemption, restoration, and fellowship.

“Come now, let’s settle this,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

When my car gets grimy with road salt or muck in winter, I can put it through a car wash. But the nice, clean look won’t last for long. A few days later, it’s dirty again.

God offers you something so much better when it comes to your sins. He offers you a permanent cleansing from them. Jesus atoning work on the Cross has made provision for your sins, for all time: past, present, and future.

Won’t you take Him up on His offer?

© 2022 Lori J. Cartmell. All rights reserved.