Whiter Than Snow

Many of my friends love snow. Since we moved from the North Carolina mountains to the upstate of South Carolina, I have been asked many times if I miss the snow. My honest answer is, "no, I do not." But since there is snow in the forecast for the Upstate this weekend, it seems a good time to write about snow.

Snow is beautiful, but I have spent enough of my years living in very snowy places, with very cold temperatures, shoveling lots of snow. I have had enough. If I really want to see snow now, I can get out my photos and enjoy it that way!

I have a photo of my parents on my desk. One of Daddy's favorite hymns was Whiter Than Snow. The words of that old hymn say “Break down every idol, cast out every foe. Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”

"Idols" to us here in 21st century America are rarely made of wood and stone. They are electronic. They are the time-stealers. They are our pride and our sense of self-importance. They are our ego. They take the form of good, rather than best, choices.

And so I am praying that the Lord will reveal anything in my life that has become an "idol" to me. Anything that takes His rightful place in my life.

I want my life to be as pure before the Lord as fresh-fallen snow.

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole;

I want Thee forever to live in my soul;

Break down every idol, cast out every foe - 

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 

Whiter than snow, yes, whiter than snow.

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 

Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain,

Apply Thine own blood and extract every stain;

To get this best cleansing, I all things forego -

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 

(-James L. Nicholson)

 

 

"Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me."

(Psalm 51:10)