White as Snow

Peace and tranquility. Everything is quiet and white. We had a snowstorm in the Northeast last night.  It's as if the whole world just stopped because of the snow. I had to fight the urge to go out at 1AM to get dressed again and go outside to take photos of this beautiful white world.  Even at one o'clock in the morning it was bright outside. The small lights on the corner of the building were reflecting the snow and lighting up everything.  The world around me looked clean and fresh. 

Psalm 51:7 says "Purge me with hyssop and I shall be clean; Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow." I couldn't help thinking of this psalm while looking out the window.  It made me feel loved by God.  So white, so clean.  Sometimes we take our world and the weather for granted; the sun, the rain, the snow.  There is a purpose for all of it. The world around us can be so dirty, but God can cleanse it in no time at all.  He can cleanse our hearts as well--in no time at all.  We just have to invite Him in to our world, our hearts.  

I don't really care for the snow. If it is snowing, that means it is cold outside. If it's cold outside, it generally means that my joints are hurting. I jokingly say snow is a four-letter word. But still, after a snow storm, I usually find myself looking at the snow and loving it. Ignoring the cold, I think about the snow and how God uses it to cover everything--the dirt, leaves, sleeping trees, all of it.  Everything is fresh, new and clean.  Just like that He covers our sin and we will be white as snow.  He gives us the opportunity to change our way of thinking, our way of doing things, but we must make the choice.   

All too soon the snow plows come in.  They clear away the snow and throw dirt on the ground.  They bring the world back into our view and open up the paths of choice. Think about it.  Think about how we look at the fresh snow--clean, pure, white and refreshing.  Too quickly the dirt is thrown back into our lives.  We must be vigilant not to let the dirt of the world take away the blessing of forgiveness.  

The roads are open, the way is clear. Choose the right path--clean, fresh, bright and full of promise. Choose life.