THE ADVENT – COLOURS OF CHRISTMAS – WHITE

We are passing through one of the most wonderful time of the year. The season of advent is such a wonderful time. It is a good time, to think about the goodness and the grace of God, showered generously, upon utterly undeserving and worthless people – all of us.

Christmas, as we are meditating upon, has a few specific colours that are used. We already looked at blue and green. Today we will meditate on the colour white. The colour white, in the Bible, and in the society, is typically associated with purity, perfection, righteousness, innocence, truth, goodness, clean, right, correct, things that are good, innocence, honesty, and cleanliness.

The colour white has some idiomatic expressions to it, in the English language – “White as Snow,” “White as a Ghost,” “White Lie,” “White Elephant,” “Whited Sepulchre” or “Whitewashed Tomb.” Such an expression is used specifically for Christmas too – a “White Christmas,” where it snows during Christmas.

White is a colour which predominantly denotes purity and good. On the contrast, black is used to denote evil and bad. The Bible also has some insightful description about the colour white, in relation with God, and the fallen human beings.
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.”
“7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
“3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.”
“14 And I said to him, “Sir, you know.” So he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” – Isaiah 1:18; Psalm 51:7; Matthew 28:3; Revelation 7:14

One of the evil ways in which the colour white is used, is the idea of racial supremacy or superiority. Racism uses the colour “white” to discriminate others, out of a false superiority of certain race. The evil of racial superiority, is not just in one group or culture. Racism is prevalent in all cultures and nations – albeit, in its own form and shape. This only goes on to prove, what the Bible says – “…For there is no difference; 23…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:22b-23.

Some questions for us, as Christians – are we white or still black? Are our sins washed white as snow? Are we pursuing purity, perfection, righteousness, innocence, truth, goodness, cleanliness, righteousness, and things that are good, honesty, and clean in our lives? May the LORD help us to walk in His ways, and bring glory and honour to Him. May we lift Him up, in and through our lives. May this be our goal, and our only purpose in life.