Since I was a boy, growing up in the mountains of West Virginia, I have always loved the snow.  There is something almost magical, intensely beautiful, about snow.  This morning I am sitting in our dining room looking out on a fresh blanket of white.  Large snowflakes are still falling.

For folks in certain parts of the country perhaps it has grown a little wearisome by this time of winter.  Weather stations are issuing constant alerts for winter storms.  The alerts seem to either bring groans or that giddy, child-like feeling.  It is true that “snow days” mean more to school children than to the rest of us, but I must confess that the little boy in me still gets excited at the prospect of fresh snow.

The older I get the more I realize that every act of nature is really an act of God.  In the created world around us we see the hand of the Creator.  Through the provision and protection in each season we grow to better understand the Sustainer of all life.  There is a message in the snow, divine “snow alerts” for those who are awake enough to receive it…

• The snow reminds us of our sin.  The first several references to snow in Scripture are connected to leprosy and the judgment of God (Exodus 4:6; Numbers 12:10; 2 Kings 5:27).  The blight of sin rests on all of us.  We need the Lord.  Job declared that even the “snow water” could not wash away his sin (Job 9:30-33).  He goes on to declare that “Drought and heat consume the snow waters: so doth the grave those which have sinned” (Job 24:19).  The next time you look at the snow, look at your own soul.

• The snow reminds us of God’s power and wisdom.  It is God who speaks and by His very word causes snow to come on the earth (Job 37:6; Psalm 147:16, 148:8).  The Lord Himself asked Job, “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?” (Job 38:22).  People are fascinated by the intricate design and distinction of each snow flake.  Think of the One who made them that way!  There is a great deal of theology in the snow.  The snow is a reminder to worship!  When you see the snow (and as you shovel your sidewalks!), stop and praise your perfect God.

• The snow reminds us of the Lord’s forgiveness and cleansing.  What an amazing thing that God uses the snow in reference to both our sin and also to His cleansing.  Our sin is as leprosy – as “white as snow” – but, when we confess our sin and He cleanses it, He makes our hearts “whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7).  The power of the blood of Christ is greater than the power of my sin!  Whiter! Greater!  He repeats the promise in Isaiah 1:18.  Every snow is a reminder of this wonderful truth.

• The snow reminds us of the Word of God.  It comes down from Heaven and accomplishes His purpose (Read Isaiah 55:10-11.)  The wise king declared, “As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters” (Proverbs 25:13).  Like a fresh snow, God’s message brings us truth and brings Him glory.  We are to faithfully get this message to others!  The snow is part of God’s general revelation in Creation, but this world is dying to hear the special revelation found in His Word (Psalm 19).

• The snow reminds us of Jesus.  Repeatedly in Scripture the snow is connected to the pure Son of God.  Christ’s garment and countenance are “white as snow” (Daniel 7:9; Matthew 28:3; Mark 9:3; Revelation 1:14).  Peter, James, and John witnessed this on the Mount of Transfiguration, and we will see it for ourselves very soon!

An all-wise God uses the beauty of His creation, the fresh fallen snow, to teach us about Himself.  So the next time your mobile phone shows a snow alert, let it be a reminder of the One who sends the snow.  He truly is beautiful.