We do use the word paradox from time to time. It does have a few meanings but let me zero in on a simple paradox, the meaning of which is: a statement or situation that may be true but seems impossible or difficult to understand because it contains two opposite facts or characteristics.

Let me say it this way. It seems impossible but is true. It seems the opposite but is not.

God likes to use paradoxes. The one I find most paradoxical is that when we are washed in the blood, God sees us as white as snow.

Now think about that. When a person is covered in blood, as say a surgeon, he commonly gets covered in blood. The surgeon must be cleaned continually, especially as he goes from one patient to another. The instruments must be cleaned. Gauze, what they call sponges must be regularly discarded. Moreover, after an operation, the room must be cleaned, corner to corner, top to bottom. Sometimes, the rooms must be cleaned from blood during the surgery. Let’s face it. Usually, blood is filthy and it spreads disease. Most of us get squeamish looking at it, or even just picturing it. One of worst jobs a person can have in an hospital is to clean an OR after an operation.

And yet, when we are covered with the blood of Christ Jesus, God looks at us as if we are cleaned white as snow. Indeed, none of us will ever get into heaven without our sins being covered by the blood of Jesus. Indeed, it is said that he has shed his blood for us that we might be saved.

Our blood will not save anyone, not even ourselves. Yet, the Bible says that sin cannot be forgiven without the shedding of blood.

I’m not going to try to explain it. It is a paradox presented to us by God. It is a fact, the blood of Jesus makes us clean. Without it, we are filthy. Confusing as it is to me, it’s a fact. Not one person that has ever lived, is living or will live, will ever go to heaven unless he has been washed in the blood of Jesus. It is the only way to become white as snow. It is the only situation I know of where something crimson red will make us white. If I knew how to explain it, I would.