Colors of Christmas - White

One may argue the accuracy of this post's title. In physics, white does not exist as a true color. Others argue if a color is distinguishable by the human eye, it does exist. I'm all for simplicity. If I can see white as my screen's background, or see a stick marked, "white," in a box of crayons, then white is a color.

During this Christmas season, we read about white in the account of Jesus' birth and the twinkling white star the wise men followed to find the Christ child:

Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!               Matthew 2:9-10 The Message

In other ways, there's no denying that white stands for purity. The symbolism is seen in a bride's wedding gown. In nature, nothing is more beautiful than a blanket of freshly fallen snow covering a dirty landscape. A white canvas is ready for the artist's touch. White represents a blank page. A clean slate.

Jesus' life was a life of purity. He was fully God, yet fully man. As a human, he was blameless. Pure in every sense of the word. He stood apart because of his sinless life.

As Christians, we strive for that purity and cleanliness. I relate to David as he cries out for this here:

Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh! Keep me from stupid sins, from thinking I can take over your work; Then I can start this day sun-wash, scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.  Psalm 19:12 The Message

One of the most beautiful answers to his plea and ours is God's proclamation:

“Come now, let us settle the matter,”

says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

    they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

    they shall be like wool.  Isaiah 1:18 NIV

Jesus came to wipe our slates clean.

We celebrate his birth this week. Paired with his birth comes new life. Mine. Yours. Hallelujah! Thank you Jesus!

Merry Christmas, dear friends. Merry Christmas!