The prophet wastes no time. The vision is clear . . . the indictment is swift . . . the LORD has spoken. They were the children He had reared and brought up, but they rebelled. They had become a “sinful nation” . . . “a people laden with iniquity” . . . having forsaken and despised the Holy One of Israel (Isaiah 1:1-4). Though they continued to go through the motions . . . though they continued with sacrifices and sacred ritual . . . God calls them on their “vain offerings” and declares, “I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly” (1:13). In a word, they were a mess. And in that mess, there was a word . . .

“Come now, 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 become like wool.”   (Isaiah 1:18 ESV)

Eighteen verses into this major prophet and you know two things. One, God is pretty much done with Israel’s game playing and their sin . . . He’s hit the wall with their rebellion . . . He’s fed up with their sham sacrifices . . . He will not endure their unfaithfulness any longer. Two, God is NOT done with His people. Even as judgment looms, there is a call to repentance . . . a continuing plea for His people to say no to sin (1:16-17). But should they do that, what about the damage already done . . . what about the stain that has discolored their souls . . . what about the dirt they have ground into the very fabric of their being?

Come, says my God, let’s noodle this through. I would not call you to repentance if there was no means by which to make you clean. I would not plead with you to turn if there was no way back. I would not call you into fellowship with Me if there was no means by which you could stand in My holy presence. True enough, the impact of sin is severe . . . it is contaminating . . . its impurities are wide ranging . . . the discoloration it brings is seemingly permanent. But I am God . . . and I say come . . . and so there must be a way. It is a way that removes the impurities . . . a way that doesn’t just white wash over the sin . . . but a way that takes the fabric of your being and restores to its original undyed whiteness . . . like wool.

This morning I marvel afresh that by God’s grace I am like wool. The stain not just hidden, but removed. The soiled fabric of my soul not replaced but re-born . . . having become a new creation . . . having boldness to approach the very throne of a God who is Holy, Holy, Holy . . . not because of any merit in me . . . but because the stain has been removed by Another.

And I wonder afresh at the gift of the “stain remover.” The blood of Jesus . . . sufficient to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1John 1:9).

What price was paid that God might say, “Come . . . listen to me . . . let’s work this through”? What sacrifice was made by heaven that sinners, stained and discolored, might be made white as snow and become again as pure wool?

Praise God for the Son of God . . . come to remove stains . . .

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high . . .   (Hebrews 1:3 ESV)

Praise God that we might be counted as sons and daughters of God . . . like pure wool . . . having attained purification of sins . . . by grace alone . . . through faith alone . . . for God’s glory alone.