Snow Forecast

In some areas of the world this time of year brings with it the possibility of snowfall.  Recently there has been exceptionally heavy snow in the Alps with over 10 feet of snowfall in just 15 days in some resorts in Austria. Snow on the roofs of buildings has brought danger to the structure of many dwellings.  Avalanches have taken the lives of skiers and people in isolated places.  At least 27 people have been killed across the Alps.  The Telegraph newspaper reported that “Many died after defying official warnings and venturing off piste despite the risk of avalanches, and nine current and former skiing stars on Tuesday issued an appeal to people to heed the warnings”.

Wikipedia says that snowflakes form when 10 or more molecules of water freeze.  Complex shapes emerge as the flake moves through differing temperature and humidity zones in the atmosphere, such that individual snowflakes differ in detail from one another.

Job asks the question “hast though entered into the treasures of the snow” Job 38 v 22,  which directs our thoughts to our great Creator. Firstly that each snowflake is different, as is each blade of grass, as is each fingerprint.  Secondly snow appears white reflecting light, an unspoiled field of snow is pristine and has a beautiful pure appearance.  Ironically a layer of snow gives benefit to the ground by insulating plants underneath it and protecting them.  The melting of snow from the hills and mountains replenishes and refreshes the streams and rivers, providing the necessary water to sustain life.

Some have referred to the millennium baby boom generation as the snowflake generation, inferring that the generation is easily offended and reluctant to take responsibility for their own actions.  How valid this description is needs to be questioned.  It may apply to some but not to all.  

Solomon in his wisdom described four generations that cannot be questioned.  In Proverbs 30 v 11 – 14 he says “There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.  There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.  There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up. There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.” 

Solomon wrote three books of the Bible.  He wrote the Song of Solomon in the love of his youth, he wrote the book of Proverbs in middle age to provide guidance for his Son and he wrote Ecclesiastes in his old age giving findings of life’s experiments concluding that “all is vanity and vexation of spirit”.  He wrote 1005 songs and spoke 3000 proverbs, he was indeed a man to be listened to.

In the New Testament Paul agreed with Solomon concerning the first generation mentioned above and described them as an unthankful generation, in 2nd Timothy 3 v 1, 2 it says “This I know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy”.  Would you not say that we are in the last days?  In our Society we see a lack of family responsibility, fathers abandoning their children and mothers passing on their responsibilities of child care to others.  The extended family is lost due to breakdown in family relationships. 

Solomon’s second generation are unclean they are pure in their own eyes but they are not washed. Our present generation is characterised by self-righteousness and reckoning no need for God’s forgiveness of their sin.  We are in a secular society, reckoning no need of God in the life. In John chapter 8 verse 21 Jesus said “I go my way, and ye shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go ye cannot come” John tells us how we can be made clean in 1st John chapter 1 verse 9 we read “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all un-righteousness.” 

Solomon’s third generation are unreal in that their pride blinds them from seeing their need. Their assessment of their life is that they are good enough.  Self is the centre of all their reasoning and their confidence is placed in themselves. The eyelids lifted up would suggest a looking down on others.  In Luke 18 we read about such a man but Jesus concluded in v 14 “everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

The final generation described by Solomon are unmerciful “ There is a generation whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives”. It is evident that our present generation fits this description.  Paramedics are being called to stabbings and shootings on a daily basis. Recently in London a 14 year old boy was deliberately knocked off a moped and three men attacked him and stabbed him to death and left him on the pavement.  Gang related stabbings often because of the drug culture are now daily happenings, revealing the unmerciful hearts in society today. 

At Calvary there were three crosses, the centre one had Jesus nailed to it.  On either side a thief, guilty of unmerciful conduct were also crucified.  Both thieves initially railed on Christ but one saw that the man on the centre cross was dying for other people’s sins.  One repented of his own sin and said to Christ “Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom” Luke 23. 42. Immediately he was forgiven and promised that he would be in paradise that very day. An unmerciful, unwashed, guilty sinner was forgiven and made fit for heaven. 

Isaiah chapter 1 verse 18 says “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.”  

Do not be like the Austrian skiers who did not heed the warnings and perished but come to the Saviour today. 

Written by a Guest Blogger