HERE IN THE REAL WORLD

THE BLIZZARD

About 15 snowflakes fell here in north eastern North Carolina today. A conservative estimate would probably put the snowflake count at 9, but as I left my desk and searched for snow sticking to the grass I am almost certain that a more liberal count of 12 to 15 flakes would be called for. As each flake fell it rekindled the memory of snowfalls from years gone by and as a group they took my mind back to an old song I remember from my youth. Jim Reeves sang about a man trying to get back home on his horse in a blinding snowstorm: The Blizzard.[1] At the start of the song there was “only seven miles to Mary Ann,” at the end, he was found froze to death “only 100 yards from Mary Ann.” With only five more miles left to go he is still eyeing his prize as he thinks about the hot biscuits in the pan. He persevered and kept looking towards the end of his journey. With “only three more miles to Mary Ann” he reminded his horse, Dan, of the warmth of the hay in the barn, and of course his mind was on the warmth of his own home that awaited the ending of this journey through a blizzard. Yet something happened. With only 100 yards left he took his eyes off the end goal and on put it on himself; he decided to stop and rest.

Our Christian lives are filled with blizzards. James wrote, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (James 1:2). James didn’t write “if you fall” but, “when you fall.” It’s going to happen. Our goal is to persevere. James continued “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1:3).

In the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 14) the disciples are in a boat that begins to get tossed by waves because of a contrary wind. Later they looked out and saw someone walking on the sea towards them. Jesus assured them it was him. Peter then said, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water” (Matthew 14:28). Of course the scriptures record that Jesus told him to come: “And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water , to go to Jesus” (Matthew 14:29). But, Peter took his eyes of his Savior and looked at the wind which was boisterous. Peter then began to sink.

Like the man in the song, a blizzard had been places between Peter and his journey’s goal: Christ. And, like the man in the song when he sifted the focus of his goal he began to sink. Unlike the man in the song Peter shifted his attention back on his goal and didn’t sink: “And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him” (Matthew 14:31). Peter didn’t have to grab that hand; he could have stayed focused on the wind and rough seas and been lost. But scriptures record that he was saved by Christ. Peter shifted his attention back to his goal: the Savior. Peter persevered.

Paul wrote, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). The New International Versions translates these verses as “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character and character, hope.” It is so easy for us to loose sight of our goal and not persevere. Some of us loose sight of our goal like the man in the song and instead of persevering and building character stop where they are and become characters! Yet, others when facing a blizzard continue to keep their eyes on the goal and persevere. Maybe, like Peter noticing the wind, they glance at the storm and then they reach back for the hand that will lead them to their goal.

Into all of our lives blizzards will come and go. Maybe they will be something with only a few countable flakes like the one here today, but it could also be one with white out conditions such as the one in the song. In either case, that hand that reached out and grabbed Peter is reached out to you. Is today the day you decide to grab it?

[1] http://www.cowboylyrics.com/tabs/reeves-jim/the-blizzard-2531.html

BENEATH THIS SNOWY MANTLE
COLD AN CLEAN

An icy blanket covered the once green landscape as winter’s death grip laid claim to the property. The once lush rolling landscape that was well prepared to produce fresh growth now lay frigid in the death lock of winter. In places where the once green life dared to emerge from the snowy mantle it only appeared as brown dead blades of grass. Its trees that once hung full of leaves stood as mere skeletons now brittle and frail cracking and breaking under the weight of its icy coat. Spring is right around the corner. Our lives apart from God are no different than that landscape crippled and infertile by winter.

Sin cripples our productive lives just as winter halts the life of nature. To the church at Corinth Paul wrote, “The sting of death is sin” (1 Corinthians 15:56). In our lives it is sin that leads to separation from God and ultimately death. Sin covers our lives and leads to death just as winter kills the landscape. This is not to suggest that man can live a life free of all sin. John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). John knew that all man sin. But, John also gave us a remedy for that occasional sin: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). It is the habitual unrepentant sin in our lives that cripple.

Just as the grass lies crippled under a blanket of snow, the sin in our lives that cripples us can only be melted by one thing: the warmth of light. The snow is melted away by the warmth of the sun while the sin in our lives is melted away by the warmth of the Sun! “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

Jesus Christ is that light: In him was life; and the life was the light of men (John 1:4). That light didn’t shine just for the Baptist, the church of Christ, the Methodist, or the Catholics. It was a light that shines for all men who would be obedient to the gospel, for that Gospel “is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Not just for a few who believe, but He sent His Son so that WHOSEVER believes will be saved.

One of the chemicals that make up blood is salt. And, it is known that salt can melt away snow. The blood that was shed by the savior on Calvary is able to melt away all the sin that cripples your life. The warmth of the love of a Savior who took the punishment for our sins is able to melt away the glaciers that stand between us and God. Is not today the day you are ready to break free from that snowy mantle of sin and obey the Gospel of the Savior, Jesus Christ?