|
As I write snow is falling thickly! So it’s over to our correspondent standing in the deepest snow-drift he could find who, having dipped his ruler into its glistening crystals, gleefully asserts: “it’s nine inches deep.” Wow! Write that down! This is the same correspondent who just a few short months ago, and dressed in waders up to his armpits, was placed in the deepest flood-water possible to convince us just how nasty floods are! That was the last time the nation had a “panic-attack” over the weather…. “And now it’s over to our correspondent in Somerset.” “Yes thanks for that. It’s 6 am here and nothing’s moving” [course not everyone’s in bed!] so it’s over to our correspondent in…..” well you get the drift don’t you? Whatever’s the matter with us? It’s WINTER. In this country we have four seasons. One hot, one warm, one cool and one COLD. We may not like snow especially the misery it inflicts or the damage it causes but it is seasonal. Snow is not abnormal, though you wouldn’t think so, especially when one millimetre is enough to bring the entire county to its knees. So, perhaps it’s time to calm down and breathe in and out slowly and deeply while saying: “the snow will go, the snow will go.”
Actually, this cold weather serves to remind us just how amazing creation is and how dependant we are on the sun. In winter when the earth turns just a few degrees away from the sun how cold it becomes where once summer shadows shaded us from the sun’s burning rays. Scientists tell us that our planet lies in what’s known as the “goldilocks zone” - not too hot and not too cold but just right for life to exist. On the other hand the cold weather often brings out the best in people. Maybe you’ve looked in on an elderly neighbour to make sure they’re warm and eating properly or helped a passing acquaintance dig out their car. There are many helpful things we can do when the weather turns frosty besides going into a panic which doesn’t help anyone.
In Palestine snow was a common sight during the winter months so it’s no surprise that the Bible contains a number of references to snow most making a theological point. The snow-capped mountains of Lebanon were in view practically the whole year round which would have influenced what people thought about God. But it is to the book of Revelation we turn at the beginning of this new year; a year stretching out before us like a field of unspoilt, virgin snow. The following passage must have come like a severe weather-warning to the Church at Laodicea blown in on a chill wind: “I know your works; you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were [one or the other].” (Rev. 3:14). This is a call to decision for a Church that thought it was OK but wasn’t.
|
|
|
This church needed to come off the fence and make a clear commitment one way or the other. Why? Because it could no longer continue looking both ways at once and expect to survive this unwelcome, wintry warning! During winter we can put on extra clothes to keep warm. Paul talks of putting on Christ like a garment not to keep out the cold but to be more fully clothed with the gospel. Soon the snow will be gone - it may have already gone by the time you read this. But may the memory of it serve to remind us all that it came with a challenge; not so much how to keep warm but to be more decisive in our commitment to Christ (and his service) whatever the weather.
Burrrrh!!
In Jesus’ name
Derek Marsh
February 2010
|