“REED” This

A Christmas Snow

When I was young, we always went to my grandparents in southern Oklahoma for Christmas. It was just a three-hour drive west from where we lived in Arkansas. It always seemed colder there because the wind was always blowing, and that time of year, it was always coming from the north. Granny and Daddy John’s house was an old rock house that was heated by a central floor furnace. That meant the living room was always a little too warm and the bedrooms were always a little too cool. But the den out back of the kitchen was just plain cold. Yet, with us twenty grandchildren buzzing around, we stayed plenty warm. I remember late one Christmas Eve it began to snow. We all looked out through the windows and watched it accumulate on the ground and measured it by how much was on the picnic table that was being covered outside the back door. Of course, we were already excited because Christmas was the next day, but now we knew there would be snow as well. As expected, it was difficult getting to sleep, but somehow, we finally did. The next morning was wonderful with all the excitement of opening our Christmas presents together with our cousins, as well as our anxiousness to play in the snow. When we finally went out, it was beautiful. Snowing all night had left thirteen inches on the ground! Now that was fun! It was hard to believe so much had accumulated, but it was snowing very heavily the previous night. Everything was covered with a thick coat of white.

Now, southern Oklahoma is not what you would call the prettiest area, especially in the winter. Not meaning to offend, but I could describe it as just being ugly. Being so cold and windy, the trees were always completely bare, except for the cedars, which were the only nice colors as everything else was a dull gray or light brown. Everywhere you would look was just cold and bleak and dead. But, the white snow covered almost all of that and overnight it was beautiful. You now saw the brilliance of the light reflecting off practically nothing but pure white snow. All of the “ugly” was gone.

No matter who we are or what we try to do, we are all ugly. Since all of us have sinned (Rom. 3:23), that sin has made us ugly. We not only look dirty and dead, we are dirty and dead. But, just like that snow covered all the dead trees and dead grass, Jesus has covered all our dirty sins with His shed blood on the cross. “Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” Psalm 32:1. And unlike when that snow melted and the old dead grass was still there, Jesus has removed our sins from us, so we don’t ever have to see them again. “He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.” Psalm 103:12. And why did He do that? Read the verse just before that one. “For His unfailing love toward those who fear Him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.” Psalm 103:11. It is all because of God’s love. His awesome love. His amazing grace. His undeserved, unmerited favor. “But – When God our Savior revealed His kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.” Titus 3:4-6.

As long as I live, I’ll always remember that Christmas snow. As well as standing on Granny and Daddy John’s couch while looking out through the window behind it and watching the snow come down the night before. But for all eternity, I will remember my wonderful Savior, Jesus, who shed His precious blood to cover all my sin. And because of Him, I stand before my God dressed in white.

“’Come now, let’s settle this,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Thought they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool.’” Isaiah 1:18

Bro. Paul Reed

Tuesday, December 14, 2021