Mt. Salem-Wyaconda Southern Baptist Association

Looking at Black and White Issues

A college art project had students take a color, and by adding white make a painting out of it, getting that color as close to white as possible. This was called “high key colors.” Then the assignment was done with a color, and getting it in a painting as close to black as possible. This is called “low key colors.”

We see this demonstrated at paint stores where there are scores, perhaps hundreds of shades of whatever color is desired are available in samples. We take samples to see which color best meets our expectations for a house, room, or perhaps even an object. The color differences can be subtle. But an almost white doesn’t make it white.

Isaiah used another illustration in Isaiah 1:18: Come now, and let us reason together,”
Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. This shows the contrast of where we are in relation to God.

The holiness of God is pure, and while, we’ll never be that holy, regardless of our good intentions or lifestyle choices, we should seek to be as holy as possible. Our sins are dark in comparison to the holiness of God, even if we think they are just a little darker, not totally bad (dark).

It is only when we let the ‘scarlet’ of the verse  - the blood of Jesus – change us from where we are to where God wants us to be.

The verses leading up to verse 18 of the chapter gives us advice on how to draw closer to God, as well as a promise (verse 19) to choose to follow God, and a warning should we choose to ignore God’s leading.

There has been one snow this month (April) already, and at this writing even more is forecast. If nothing else, let this (these) spring snow(s) remind us of the needed cleansing and renewal of our souls by Jesus Christ.

Dan Steinbeck, Moderator