“For He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth’; Likewise to the gentle rain and the heavy rain of His strength.” (Job 37:6)
I awoke to see a pristine beauty falling outside my window from the sky. It is our first snow of the season. Blanketing the ground, it looks as if everything is in harmony. A crisp clean air fills the lungs of young children playing in the new scenery.
“Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.”
—Elvina M. Hall, 1865
When I look at the snow, I understand the message of the song much better. Just like the snow falling on the leaf covered streets and garbage cans waiting to be emptied; what might not be considered the most beautiful view prior to the snow falling, when we are covered by the blood of Jesus, it isn’t garbage and dead leaves He sees in us, but a pure and clean newness in Him. Even though we know what’s underneath, God sees a clean slate.
When we make the decision to turn our lives over to our Creator, or repent of our wrong doings, we can rest assured that our sins are forgiven and washed clean from the mind of God. We are not as perfect. We may not forget, but that’s not what’s most important. We have a gracious, merciful and loving God who is able to provide a clean slate for us.
When I see the snow, I forget the busyness of my life. Everything seems so still and quiet. I imagine this is how God would have me be more often; to forget the distractions of the world and focus on Him. I watched my children running and playing with tremendous joy to see such new surroundings. Newness… how exciting it can be to experience.
If you get an opportunity to see snow this year, please take a moment and consider the greatness of God’s work giving us this tangible example of His goodness. I believe Elvina’s song, “Jesus Paid it All” was likely inspired from Isaiah 1:18 which says:
“‘Come now, and 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 be as wool.’”
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Scripture references are quoted from the NKJV.