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LET IT SNOW By Matt Foster
I guess I am just a big kid at heart. I love to play in the snow with my kids. As the song says, “let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.” Well, maybe next year. Like a lot of other people I have just about had my fill of the snow, as of late. I did not get to go out and play with my kids as much as I would have liked to due to our being sick. And due to all the sickness, I am ready for warmer days. But, are there any spiritual lessons we can glean from the snow? I believe there is. I believe we can always learn from God’s amazing creation of His universe. In fact, God’s word tells us about God’s power to send the snow. Consider the words of the Psalmist in Ps. 147:16-18, “He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold? He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.” I think most us are glad to see the melting portion of this verse come about. But, what can we learn from the snow?
The first lesson we can learn from the snow, in the above verse, is that God is in control of his creation. God has put in place natural laws governing His universe that keep all things running and sustaining life upon this earth (2 Pet. 3:7). I have great respect for meteorologists, but they can only try to predict the weather they can not make it or control it. Only God has this power.
The second lesson we can learn from the snow & winter weather is to count our blessings. Winter and snow causes us many inconveniences. Such as, what to do with our kids when they are out of school or the roads are dangerous to travel on or the electricity may go out due to an ice storm. Yet in spite of all these inconveniences, we need to consider how blessed we are. We are blessed to have healthy and happy children. We are also blessed to have homes with all the modern conveniences that electricity brings into our lives today. Even if we lost our conveniences, homes, and families we would still be abundantly blessed. It might be hard for us to see it at the time, but it would be true none the less. We would do well to have the attitude of Job, who during the time of adversity could still see the blessings of God (Job 1:20-22; 2:9-10). Let us be thankful always. We see in Psalms 23 that though the psalmist walked through the valley of the shadow of death God comforted and provided for him. Do you have such an outlook on life? Christians above all people are blessed. However, this does not shelter them from the difficulties of life. Yet, God is always there to care for and comfort His children. We are blessed with forgiveness that we don’t deserve. Truly, we are blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3).
Next, we learn of the need for perseverance. It takes time for all the snow to melt away. But rest assured, spring will come. The snow here has almost all disappeared. Christians must realize that trials, temptations and hardships will come. But we must endure faithfully. If we are willing to endure, we will make it, just as others before us made it with God’s help (James 5:7-11). Let us be strong in the Lord. Gal. 6:9 says, "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” God does not give up on us. Let us not give up on God!
Lastly, the wise make preparations for winter and for the approaching of bad weather. Just as a wise squirrel stores up nuts before winter. Likewise, the wise man may purchase new tires or a new generator in case of a power outage. But are we wise enough to make preparations for the coming of the Lord and the next life? Consider the parable of the wise virgins who made preparations in Mt. 25:1-13. Are we laying up treasures in heaven or are we as the fool who laid up for himself in this life, but was not rich toward God (Luke 12:15-21). Amos 4:12 says, “prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” If the world remains, one day the snow will return and just as surely one day the Lord will return. ARE YOU READY? |