Snow Matters

The corner lot. It looked great back in late July when we first looked at the house. Extra space. Breathing room for us country folk. Sidewalks on both sides, one very long because of our relatively (for the city) big backyard. Sure, we were warned that we'd have to keep the sidewalks cleared of snow in the winter, especially with the school so close. But how bad could it be? Not bad enough to stop us from buying the house. We moved in November.

Enter January. I lose an hour's sleep--not once for Daylights Savings but every day to shovel snow. Sure, the snowblower someone gave us would probably work, but what exercise is there in that? I actually don't mind it--it wakes me up, wears me out, and gives me plenty of time to think.

And when I run out of things to think about, I just think about the snow. Did you know there are at least three biblical purposes for snow? The snow brings not only skiing and sledding possibilities and dreams of school cancellations (for everyone outside of Western New York, at least), but it reminds us of some things about God.

(1) Snow reminds us of God's forgiveness
Isaiah 1:18: "Come now, let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." God had just finished calling out His people on their sins, making his hatred for their religious hypocrisy very clear. And yet, as always, He reminds them of the chance they have for forgiveness. Their sins had been as scarlet, but through His forgiveness they can be white as snow. The forgiveness He speaks of is made possible in Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:12 says, "When you were dead in your sins...God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins." Did you catch that? ALL our sins. There is no sin we can commit that is greater than God's love for us. Deep down, I believe we all long to be clean. We all know what it is to feel guilt, to feel unworthy of love and grace (Romans 3:23). But God offers a cleansing, an outpouring of grace, a beauty in Christ. As frustrating as the snow can be, there is an amazing beauty to a fresh snowfall. The hard winter ground is covered with a soft, wonderful snow. In the same way, God longs to cover our hard hearts with His grace. So, with every shovel of snow, I am reminded of God's forgiveness through Christ!

(2) Snow reminds us of God's sovereignty
Job 38:22: Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail?
The popular Christian worship song "Indescribable" quotes from here when it says "Who has told every lightening bolt where it should go, or seen heavenly storehouses laden with snow?" It's from Job. Job didn't exactly have it easy. You think you have reason to doubt God? Job had more--lost all his wealth, health, and children. His initial response was supreme worship: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised" (Job 1:21). But as life goes on, he has more and more questions for God. Finally, God cuts him off and reverses roles: "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me" (Job 38:3). And He asks, "Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me if you understand... Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place?" Essentially, God is saying, "Job, are you in control, or me?" and He puts Job in his place. And eventually, He uses even the snow to illustrate His sovereignty. Snow, then, becomes a reminder that God is in control. This would be a problem if God were bad. But He is good (Psalm 34:8-10) and therefore we can rejoice that He is in control and has our best interest in mind! So with every shovel of snow, rejoice and say "God is in control!"

(3) Snow reminds us of God's word
Isaiah 55:10-11: As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
There are few guarantees in life. When I get one, I like to stand on it and get as much out of it as possible. Here's a guarantee from God: His word will not return void. The TV I watch (yes, even the sports) may or may not accomplish a good purpose in my life--probably not! Some of the books I read (yes, even Christian books) may or may not help to fulfill God's purpose in me. So much of what I give my time to comes with no guarantee. God's word is guaranteed. It will accomplish His purpose. As surely as the snow helps to water the ground and brings forth life in the spring, God's word will bring forth His good work in me. What's it mean for me? Get into God's word. Spend time with Him reading His word. It's guaranteed to make a difference. With every shovel of snow, I am reminded of God's word.

And there you go! The purposes of snow! Stop complaining about snow and let that snow lead you in worship!

higher than i

Hear my cry, O God! Listen to my prayer! From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.
Psalm 61:1-2

I get so sick of I. I get so sick of myself. I get in the way of God's best for me. I think I'm doing good. And then I think I'm doing really good. And then, one way or another, God puts me back in place. It's a humble place, this place where God puts me. It must be similar to the place where Paul is when he writes, "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24).

This is why I am not enough. This is why I need something greater, something higher. There is a rock that is better than I, that is higher than I, that is everything more than I, and I need to stand on it. I need to trust in it. I need to worship Him.

I have known this for over ten years now. When I first came to the end of myself and realized I wasn't good enough to survive this world let alone to have a home in the next, I called on Jesus. And he picked me up onto this higher rock, He washed my sin, reserved my secure home in heaven, set His Spirit inside of me, and gave me a new purpose in this world. In Christ, all things hold together. In Him, everything make sense. It makes no sense to put on anything other than Christ, to live for anything apart from Christ, to step out on our own for even a moment and yet...we do it all the time.

This is why we must escape. Escape the rat-race routine and step regularly onto higher ground. To read His word, to think, to write, and to inspire one another to engage with God.

Let me aim for a higher calling, live for a greater glory, stand on the only rock worthy, and inspire others to do the same. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Thanks be to God--through Jesus Christ our Lord
Romans 7:25