Worship and Praise: An Occasional Column
by Max Frazier, Jr.

From the February 2008 Philogian:

Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail? (Job 38:22 KJV)

Let me first begin with an admission that I am not a lover of winter.  I am more comfortable with heat and humidity than with cold and drier air.  I would rather “dream of a white Christmas” than to experience it.  Now I know what many of you are thinking…why do you live in Minnesota?  My response is, “Because this is where God has invited us to serve Him.”

As I sit and write this little article we are off to the snowiest start to a December in Minnesota in many years.  And, with no thaw in the forecast, it does appear that it will be a “white Christmas.”  It was during one of those snowfalls, while I was grousing about winter, that God, as only God can do, reminded me of the treasures of the snow. 

First, there is the lesson of His forgiveness.  I was reminded of God’s invitation to a sinful nation of Israel to experience that forgiveness.  The prophet Isaiah wrote: “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 as crimson, they shall be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18 NIV).  There is something pure and clean about a world blanketed in white.  For at least a few moments the grime and dirt is covered over.  However, we know that soon the grime and dirt will be exposed as the snows melt.  Yet, the experience of God’s forgiveness does not evaporate as do the snows.  The Apostle John depicted it this way: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NIV).  When God forgives all our sins and iniquities are not just covered up, as the snows cover up the earth’s grime and dirt, but are completely removed from us.  King David wrote: As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:12 NIV).  No mortal man knows where the defining line between east and west is.  Basically I think David is saying that when our sins are forgiven we don’t ever need to worry about them again.  They are gone!  In his prayer to God for healing, King Hezekiah declares: In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back (Isaiah 38:17 NIV).  Now, friends, in all my years of studying the Scriptures there is one thing that I have never read concerning God: His turning around to see what is behind Him.  Forgiveness is having our sins behind God’s back.  They will never be remembered again. 

Second, there is the lesson of God’s uniqueness in His creativity.  That afternoon as I opened the rear door to my car a single solitary snowflake landed on the floor mat.  Because the car was cold the snowflake did not melt immediately.  It was a perfectly formed snowflake, the kind you used to try to create with scissors and paper when you were in school, but somehow you just could never get every side to look alike.  But God can.  I was awed as I looked at that perfectly formed six-pointed snowflake.  It looked as if it had been chiseled by a great sculptor.  And then I remembered that I had been told that no two snowflakes are ever alike – each one is unique. 

And that is what God has created you and me to be – unique.  We are all different, aren’t we?  Some are tall, some are short.  Some are readers, some are not.  Some are gifted to use tools, some are not.  Some know health, some do not.  Some can sing, some can’t carry a tune in a bucket.  Our skin pigment is red, yellow, black, brown, and white.   We live in Minneapolis, Chicago, New York, London, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Mumbai, and Cape Town and thousands of places in between.  God has created each one of us to be special.  I would encourage you to read Psalm 139: 13-18 to discover how special you truly are to God.  He has given you a special gift that, when used, can bring a blessing to many others.  Listen to these words from the Apostle Paul: There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.  Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good (1 Corinthians 12:4-7 NIV).  Your uniqueness brings a blessing to me, a blessing that only you can provide. 

Yes, God was right when He told Job to consider the treasures of the snow.  So, perhaps the next time an Alberta Clipper blesses us with four or five inches, I will remember what I have just written and not be hasty in grousing about winter.  I will remember to celebrate God’s forgiveness and for making me a unique individual.  But I will also remind God of His promise of spring!

 

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