Like Crimson, Like Wool

¹“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18) Sometimes, when we have committed sin, we feel as small and as ugly and as worthless as a little bug. We might feel so ashamed that we wish God would just step on us and squash us and put us out of our misery. Crimson, both the word and the original dye, come from the kermes insect. The dried bodies of these kermes insects would be ground into a powder and used to dye clothing. Satan would have us believe that because of our sins we are nothing more than insects that can serve no purpose but to be ground into dust. But because of the sacrifice and Atonement of Jesus Christ, instead of kermes insects that must be ground down into a powder, we can be sheep in His flock, with wool as white as snow. Christ is the true shepherd. He knows His sheep. He does not see worthless insects to be crushed, but lost sheep whose wool may have become a bit dirty but can nevertheless be cleansed with His blood until it gleams a pure and perfect white. None of us ever deserve to be crushed into dust. Every single one of us has as many opportunities as we need to repent and return to the fold where our Shepherd waits to welcome us home.