Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
Sometimes winter lays its soft blanket gently and quietly. But even when its blustery, snow-filled, cold, harsh breath blows, it leaves behind a crisp starkness and raw beauty, a back and white world which is strangely comforting. As it settles around us, we are reassured that the world is in order. Earth’s seasons are cycling as they were created to do. The Psalmist sang: “You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth/you have made summer and winter. (Psalm 74:17)
The prophet Isaiah made a profound analogy between melting snow packs which supply water for the warmer, drier months and the life changing importance of God’s Words. “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth. And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth…” (Isaiah 55:10-11) Just as melting snow waters the earth, God’s directives and principles nourish and sustain our souls and quench the thirst for relevance, redemption, and renewal.
The idea that our moral and spiritual lives are fed by Scripture is a continuous Biblical theme. The Psalmist sang about “the Law of the Lord,” “the testimony of the Lord,” the precepts of the Lord,” and “the rules of the Lord” and how they “revive” the soul and “rejoice” the heart and are “ more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.”“ Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” (Psalm 18:7-10; 34:8)
The prophet Jeremiah discovered this truth as he hungered for God’s thoughts:,“ Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts”. (Jeremiah 15:16) Heeding God’s purposes reminds us of whom we were designed to be, that we were fashioned to be His image.
Presenting Christ as God’s wisdom and revelation to man, Scripture refers to Jesus as “the Word.” And Christ continued using this imagery of food and water, of tasting and drinking. He said, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” Partaking of Christ’s life is the matter of faith, of trusting that his words are truth and his sacrifice is necessary and adequate for redemption and reconciliation with God. That is the Gospel, which addresses humanity’s need for spiritual awakening and God’s sufficiency to satisfy, to revive, and to give spiritual, eternal life to those who will accept the Good News of Christ. ” The Gospel is “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes…” (John 1:1-2) (1 Corinthians 1:30) (Colossians 1:15-16) ( John 6:35)(Romans 1:16)
Sustenance for the soul is not home grown but is received. Forgiveness, righteousness, reconciliation and eternality with God are gifts of belief. Isaiah conveyed that truth to his people; “Open up, O heavens, and pour out your righteousness. Let the earth open wide so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together. I, the LORD, created them.” (Isaiah 45:8) That salvation and righteousness are of divine origin is a theme threading its way throughout the entirety of God’s Word. This is the Gospel which was given years before Jesus came in order to fulfill it by pouring himself out for our salvation and imparting his righteousness to us when we open up to him to receive his perfect sacrifice for our spiritual weaknesses known as sin. “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. (Isaiah 1:18)
It is crucial to give thought to these Scriptural promises which claim to be the Words of life that cleanse the soul. (John 15:3)
