“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT)
“When it snows, there is no other time when the whole world seems composed of one thing only.”
- Joseph Wood Krutch, The Twelve Seasons (1949)
Weather forecasts sometimes accurately predict the weather—Biblical prophecy is as certain to come true as sunrise. This time the computer models got it right; in fact, the blizzard of 2016 may prove to be another “snowmageddon” or “snowpocalypse”. We can be certain the omniscient God will get it right—and when his Son triumphs over wickedness at Armageddon, saints will dance for joy. The apocalypse (revelation) of Jesus Christ will solve problems that have eluded human effort for centuries. The living God has spoken in the Bible—he means every word and will keep every promise. When the Judge of the universe says “time’s up,” heaven’s wrath will judge evil and establish the King of king’s eternal reign of righteousness. The Day of the Lord will dawn and Christ the Morning Star will dispel the darkness. The Weather Channel comes close to an hour-by-hour
description of weather conditions, but it’s not always absolutely correct. We cannot know the exact day or hour of our Savior’s return, but we can be sure He will keep his promise to return. Just because it hasn’t happened yet does not mean it will not happen. Jesus is coming.
We have been given ample warning to prepare for this blizzard—God is giving us time to repent and get ready for the storm of judgment. The media has done a good job of reminding us to be sure we have sufficient emergency supplies, batteries, flashlights, food and water to survive. Scripture repeatedly cautions us to get ready for the tempest of transitioning from time to eternity—either when we die and face God in judgment, or when Christ returns to settle the score with sin and gather his people to himself. Though the origin of the word blizzard is obscure, it may be somehow connected with blaze. The word came into general use in the United States in the hard winter of 1880-81. Surely if we realize someday we will stand before the Ancient One whose clothing, head and hair are as white as snow, we will make a conscious effort to purify ourselves. While we live and breathe, God is giving us time to get ready.
It is comforting to enjoy our home as a shelter from the driving snow and intense cold—God is our heart-warming Home in this cold, cruel world. “In every high and stormy gale,” God has been our Home; and whatever winds may blow in the future, we can rest assured He will keep us safe in his arms. We are encouraged by trusting his promises, insulated from devastation by his Presence, and shielded from harm by his omnipotence. John paints a vivid word picture for us, describing how Jesus visited Jerusalem when it was winter—walking through Solomon’s Colonnade, people surrounding him and listening to his teaching. What he told them then reassures us today—“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else.” No winter lasts forever—after life’s storms are over, all will be well.
When we’re snowed in and cannot go to work, shop, or go for a drive, that’s a good opportunity to rest—Today is a good time to relax in our Father’s care and enjoy the rest He alone can give. Record snowfall and snowdrifts will prevent us from doing all we might want to do, but that’s no reason to suffer from cabin fever. Disruption of our plans can be a good thing if we use this unexpected opportunity for quiet time with our Creator. A power outage would keep us from watching TV or DVDs, but we can still read God’s Word and be blessed by reminders that heaven’s power never goes out. Waiting quietly before God refreshes our hearts in a way no earthly entertainment can.
The snow-blanketed landscape is beautiful and glorious—Heaven on earth will thrill our souls forever with a glory we’ve never known before. The silent and relentless snowfall prompts my heart to thank God for his mercy in making the landscape of my heart as white as snow in his sight. It also inspires me to look forward to that magnificent day—when sin’s grimy filth will be irrevocably covered by the pure beauty of grace; when unsettled nations will finally be united by the Prince of peace; when we will live in a tearless, deathless, painless, sinless, endless place we can call home.
You will probably not be able to worship with other believers tomorrow, but you can worship the Lord by yourself or with your family by reading the following verses of Scripture to reinforce your faith—Genesis 5:22; Job 38:22; Psalm 46:10; 51:7; 62:5; 90:1; 94:19; 148:8; Isaiah 1:18; 55:10-13; Daniel 7:9-10; Matthew 24:36; John 10:22-30; 14:3; Acts 1:11; Romans 14:10-12; Hebrews 9:27; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 3:8-14; 1 John 3:2-3; Revelation 1:14; 21:3-4. Then humbly thank the Lord for his love.
Johnny R. Almond
Interim Pastor, Hull’s Memorial Baptist Church; Fredericksburg, Virginia
Blog http://GentleWhispersFromEternity-ScripturePersonalized.com/
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