Whiter Than Snow!

 

            At the rear of my backyard, there are woods, with tall trees and various vines and shrubs.  At times, you will see deer, rabbits, or squirrels come out of those woods.  However, at this time of the year, those woods are a picture of gloom.  The branches are bare, and the trees stand against a dark, cloudy sky.  It’s not a very inviting picture.

            This morning was different.  Today, I looked out over those trees and saw their branches covered with snow.  The ice that clings to them sparkles even on a cloudy day.  The snow on the ground in front of them is pure and white, untouched by human feet. As the snow continues to fall, I have a “postcard” picture of a winter wonderland, all created by the Master Designer.

            God makes it clear in Genesis 8, that He created the seasons and that they will be with us until the end of history (Genesis 8: 22).  I don’t have the knowledge to try to explain why the seasons are important to agriculture or any other scientific endeavors.  I can say that the seasons are just one example of the beauty that God has created for our pleasure.  I know some people who are cold-weather fans.  They love to breathe the fresh crisp air of a winter day.  For me, there is nothing better than a warm summer day with the sun shining brightly.  Most of us find some joy in both the fall and the spring as God delights us with the colors of His creation.  It’s obvious that one of the reasons that God gave us the seasons is for our pleasure.

            When it comes to snow, many of you are like me—you don’t mind it so long as you don’t have to get out in it.  That’s one of the blessings of retirement. 😊  I do have to admit that before it is disturbed by humans, it is beautiful to see.  The dead grass of our lawns is covered by white flakes, clean and unblemished by humans.  Perhaps that is why God uses snow to paint the picture of how He cleanses us from our sins.  In Psalm 51, David confesses his sin to God, and then asks God to cleanse him and make him whiter than snow (Psalm 51: 7).  The prophet, Isaiah, reports the words of a loving and just God, “…Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow…” (Isaiah 1: 18, NIV84). 

            Because of Christ, we can have forgiveness for our sins.  With repentance comes the cleansing by our Father.  He makes us whiter than snow—clean and unblemished.  Our sins are forgiven and forgotten. 

            Perhaps God sends us a snowstorm occasionally to remind us of His desire to wash our sins away.  All He asks is acceptance of His Son, confession and repentance of our sins, and obedience.  That’s a small price to pay to be “whiter than snow.”

Psalm 51

Isaiah 1: 18 – 20

Acts 2: 38

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