I’m not much of a fan of snow, ice, cold, or really any part of winter in northeast Ohio. I don’t like driving in snow (an increased commute to work has increased that distaste), I don’t like being cold, I don’t like heating bills, and I don’t like freezing air that hurts my face every time I walk outside. But even I, winter grinch that I am, can appreciate the picturesque beauty of newly fallen snow. There’s something about an expanse of unbroken and undisturbed snow that yes, even I appreciate. Perhaps my favorite sight in this regard is when there’s already been snow for several days, snow plow crews have been out, and when I go to bed the roadside is marred with the unsightly grayish-brown byproduct of salt and ice and gravel and road debris; and yet in the morning, the fresh accumulation from overnight precipitation covers up that entire mess. (Admittedly, that was a more enjoyable view when I was more likely than I am now to be able to stay inside and not think about whether the roads would be cleared once more before I needed to venture out again.) Or maybe the sight of a small lake as seen through a broad window at work, frozen and covered with a pristine layer of snow takes top prize. More than the sense of serenity and peacefulness derived from that sight, what’s of value to me is the picture of redemption, the faithfulness of the Lord to forgive, and the wellspring of His mercy new every morning we see there.
On one level, the fresh snow reminds me of Lamentations 3:22-23: “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Well-known and oft-quoted verses, to be sure, but no less precious for the repeating, I see reminders of these new morning mercies every time the new accumulation covers over the salt at the side of the road. New every morning, covering over the filth of the day before.
The book of Isaiah points us to a still deeper picture, in chapter 1 verse 18, where we read, “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 like crimson, they shall become like wool.”
You and I sure make a mess of things, with our sinful words and actions, the things we do and say but shouldn’t, the things we should do and say but don’t. Even if we didn’t, Scripture makes it clear that we’re not starting with a clean and unmarred slate (Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23; Psalm 14, to name a few). We’re really starting with a muddy barnyard, churned up into a disgusting mess by ceaseless pacing and mindless movement, a pitted and deeply rutted mudhole of a driveway, and the salt sludge of sin just adds to the unsightliness of the mess. Unlike the fresh snow, which merely hides the junk for a short time though, the blood of Christ completely covers our sins forever. It’s not a slap-dash poorly executed cover job, but a full restoration. The salt won’t eventually melt through the veneer of fresh fall; the sludge is completely gone. Forever. Though my sins surely were as scarlet, through the washing of the blood of Christ, they are unstained and unblemished white.
And because I’m slow to remember and quick to doubt or question, I appreciate the further assurance of pardon we find elsewhere, such as in I John 1:9 (“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”) and Isaiah 55:6-7 (“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.”)
I’m always glad to see winter come to an end, for sure; but I do appreciate the opportunity to be reminded of the mighty acts of the Lord, even if those opportunities come only with the snow.
I agree that a fresh snowfall gives us that “clean and pure” look of nature. Just after a spring rain when the air smells fresh is another time. But you are very correct in that it only covers the dirt underneath. We are so blessed that His blood washed it all away to make us “white as snow”. Thank you for the very appropriate reminder of Gods grace.