*My sweet Asher in front of the red-painted Peyton Randolph house in Williamsburg.*

Have you ever seen a house painted with blood? (Not your everyday question, right?) Believe it or not, I have. There’s a house in Colonial Williamsburg, —one of my favorite places to visit— called The Peyton Randoph House. That home holds this peculiar paint choice. While its restored exterior today features ordinary paint, the original home was coated in a paint tinted red with the blood of insects.

Yes, you read that right—insects! The technique of using insect blood to create vibrant reds has ancient roots.

Let’s talk about this curious connection between crimson dye and Scripture. In Isaiah 1:18, the Lord says:

“Though your sins are like scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson,

they shall be like wool.”

“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. If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;”
Isaiah 1:18-19 ESV

God uses creation to tell His story.

The Hebrew word for crimson is tôlâ, which means “worm” or “maggot.” This word refers to a specific worm with a remarkable story. When the female tôlâ was ready to give birth, she would attach herself firmly to the trunk of a tree. She laid her eggs in this place of protection, securing her offspring between her body and the rough bark.

After laying her eggs, the mother tôlâ died, releasing a crimson fluid that stained both her body and the tree. This fluid, rich in color, was the source of the scarlet dye used in ancient times. It was permanent—impossible to remove from the cloth it colored.

What an incredible picture God paints for us!

Do you see the image God gave Isaiah when He compared our sins to scarlet and crimson? And it doesn’t end there. In Psalm 22—a psalm that vividly points to the cross—Jesus refers to Himself as a “worm.” Our Lord willingly placed Himself on a tree for us. Through His death, He gave us life. His blood, poured out, washes away our sin, making us white as snow. And just as the tôlâ’s dye was permanent, the cleansing Jesus provides secures us forever in the Father’s love.

God often uses His creation to tell His story. The tôlâ worm gives us a profound image of Jesus’ sacrifice. He became like that worm, humbling Himself to death, so we could be saved and given eternal life. He bore the stain of sin so we could wear His righteousness. What love! What grace!

*A tree stained red with the crimson fluid of the tôlâ worm.*

One Truth . . . One Way.

The culture loves to tell us that there are many roads to salvation, many paths to God. But let me tell you the truth: there’s only one way to salvation, and His name is Jesus. No substitutes, no alternatives, no shortcuts.

Are you struggling with sin in your life? I think we can all admit the answer is yes. Scripture tells us, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). None of us are exempt. But here’s the good news: there’s a place for your struggle, your failure, and your shame—and that place is the cross.

Put down the self-help books.
Lay aside the well-meaning advice.
Step away from the world’s temporary solutions and bring your sin to the foot of the cross.
That’s where healing begins.

The promise is clear: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Cleansing is something we all need—every single one of us. And it’s only possible through the crimson blood of Jesus. His blood washes away the stain of sin, purifies us, and makes us white as snow.

There’s no sin too deep, no stain too stubborn, that His blood cannot cleanse. So come to the cross, My Friend. That’s where grace meets you, and that’s where transformation begins.

My father used to say, “I have been saved; I am being saved; and I will be saved.” What a beautiful picture of how we’re called to live! It’s not a one-time event but a daily journey of crucifying our flesh, continually being transformed and aligning our hearts with the truth of God’s Word.

Every day, we’re invited to take our sins to the foot of the cross, to ask for forgiveness, and to experience His grace anew. Repentance isn’t just about saying we’re sorry—it’s about turning our lives around, allowing God to shape us, and becoming more like Him. It’s in that daily act of surrender that He makes us white as snow.

And as we walk this path of salvation, our lives become something extraordinary—a great Symphony of His Praise. Each moment, each step of faith, each act of repentance plays its part in a melody that glorifies Him. Let your life be that symphony, a reflection of His redeeming love and grace that has been cleansed and washed as snow.