What happens when God puts us through a trial that makes life tough. It's kind of like now in the world we live in where the economy is in the tank, our politicians lie at will, and most of our country just doesn't seem to care. We look at the things that are going on and we just scratch our head and say, "God, where are you in all of this?" I trust God and continue to learn to trust Him more and more, but there are those moments.....you know what I mean. It's in those moments of confusion that I have to look at the "big picture" and see things from a different perspective than where I am. It's when trust is fueled with a definite discernment from God that He is in control. And, by the way, He is in control!!
I was raised mostly in the great state of Missouri. We actually had winters in my home state and part of those winters was the likelihood of snow in huge amounts. In fact, we would at times get up to two weeks off of school every winter because of snow and ice. I lived on a 63 acre farm that had 4 ponds that were great ice skating ponds when the temperature kept below 0' for a few days straight. Couple that with about 16 inches of snow and we were set for some winter fun, with no school on the horizon. It was always fun to wake up to the huge snowflakes coming down and seeing well over a foot of snow on the ground. When it snowed in Missouri it stayed on the ground a while because the temperatures stayed cold for long periods of time. It was like I had moved to another country and everything was fresh and new with the addition of a simple thing called SNOW! I never got tired of the snow and loved the opportunity it gave me for sledding and just all around fun. But like many other things in life, changes would take place, like the temperature rising, and then the snow would start melting. The fun was over. Now back to school! One particular winter I remember the temperature that had been so cold changed drastically overnight and I woke up to almost all the snow being gone. It was late winter and we really weren't expecting anymore snows, but we still had a snow of about 6 inches. As I walked out that morning I sat down on our back porch stoop and said to myself, "Snow, I'm gonna miss you!" As I walked across the side lawn I was amazed to see that the grass was green and thick and just starting to come in. The snow had melted giving liquid nourishment to the ground, and as one season was ending, another was just beginning.
In Isaiah 55: 13, the prophet Isaiah spoke about the new life that only comes through salvation made possible by the Messiah. In the scripture God is giving us insights into, how like the seasons change, to make way for new life, His way changes to give hope and bring new life. You see, we may not realize it all right now, but our world is changing every day as those who are lost try to find solace and strength in the things they can think in their mind, or do with their hands. We live in a world that is trying to believe they are self sufficient, when really they aren't at all. This is not our world!! Proof of the futility of worldly thinking is found in the reasoning that we see every day that is contrary to God's ways and His purpose. In verse 6 it says, "Seek God while He's here to be found, pray to Him while He's close at hand." That's a word for us and those who are seeking the real truth and depth of what living this ole life is really all about. God is available......for now!! God tries to forewarn those of Isaiah's day and those of our day where He says in verses 7 and 8, "Let the wicked abandon their way of life and their evil way of thinking. Let them come back to God , who is merciful, come back to our God, who is lavish with forgiveness. I don't think the way you think." "The way you work isn't the way I work. God's decree." What God seems to be saying is "Access me while I am here. Start to think more of me and not of your own devices." We have been blessed as a nation and God has truly given us so much, but we must not forget from where our help comes from. It comes from God. Just like the beauty of the snow I experienced as a child, God's beauty has been seen and shown to us through the years, but it seems many are turning their backs on Him at a time when we need Him the most. The snow is melting......now what? With change God gives new life. When ushering out one thing, God ushers in another. In verse 10 and 11 Isaiah prophesies, "Just as rain and snow descend from the skies and don't go back until they've watered the earth, doing their work of making things grow and blossom, producing seed for farmers and food for the hungry. So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They'll do the work I sent them to do, they'll complete the assignment I gave them." In God's great purpose He will have an impact, even in today's world. God's Word is still active and alive. He is still on His throne and His mercy does endure forever. The question is this; what will be our response be during these times of snow covering? What will be our cry during these times of rain? How will our faith strengthen during these trials? If you are apathetic, you will not have any response, because you are spiritually deaf. If you are aggressive and believe in the power of the Holy Spirit, you will see the melting of the snow and realize that there is great growth waiting to be seen as God leads. That growth will probably need to be accomplished by different means than we have ever used in the American Church, but growth will come. The question for each of us is this. Are you lamenting the snow melting, or are you anticipating a great crop as you see signs of new growth in what was left behind. In being a remnant people, we believe God can breathe new life into bones that were thought dead. Where are you going to be found? "The Snow is Melting!"
The Pilgrimage continues....
David Warren
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