BITS and PIECES
A random collection of news and views compiled by Frank McClelland for the Toronto Free Presbyterian Church.
229th Edition – February 9, 2025
THE TREASURES OF THE SNOW
Snow for young people is fun – skis, skates, snowmobiles and sleds. It is not so much fun for the older ones as it means digging, plowing, scraping ice, and jumper cables. But snow in the Bible carries a message. Job posed a question, “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow?” [Job 37:6]. Let us investigate God’s treasure chest. There is the treasure of:
SUPERNATURAL POWER. A box two-foot square and 10 inches deep would contain one million snowflakes. Each one is unique, hexagonal and of exquisite beauty, an example of God’s creative genius.
Is anything so fragile as a snowflake? Yet multiply them together in an avalanche and they can hurtle down a mountain at 200mph. The preceding air blast is so strong
it can blow a house apart. God’s existence and power can be seen in the snowflakes.
SOVEREIGN PURITY. Is anything so white or pure as snow? Alongside snow all other whites appear discoloured. Our teeth or white shirt seem like yellow when compared with snow. Beside the purity of God we are stained by our sin.
God is described as the “Ancient of days … whose garments are as white as snow” [Daniel 7:9. See also Matt. 28:3 & Mark 9:3].
SINNER’S PLIGHT. Strangely, snow pictures not only the highest in purity but also the worst in depravity. Contrast the fresh snowfall with the ugly mess when in spring the piles of snow begin to melt revealing pop cans, and coffee cups and all manner of filthy detritus.
Leprosy has been described as “the utmost of depravity on this side of the grave.”
Moses withdrew his hand from his chest and it was “leprous as snow” [Exodus 4:6]. His sister Miriam also was stricken with leprosy, “as white as snow” [Numbers 12:10].
Is this a treasure? Yes. To see ourselves as leprous sinners in the sight of a holy God is the first step towards redemption.
SAINT’S PARDON. What a treasure is this! The Lord gives a great invitation, “Come now and let us reason together: though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow” [Isaiah 1:18]. Once I looked at a red car through a red pane of glass and the car seemed white.
God looks down from heaven at our scarlet sins. To Him they are white as snow because He sees them through the scarlet blood of Christ. What a great treasure to have all of our sins completely blotted out.
SCRIPTURE PROMISE. The Word of God is likened to snow. “For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven … so shall my Word be” [Isaiah 55: 10,11]. What is the purpose of the snow? “To give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater.” It is necessary to moisten the ground and lead to the growth of necessary food.
What is the purpose of the Word of God? It is sent down from heaven to feed us and teach us in the way we should go. With a new car you get a manual to tell you how to operate it. God has given us an instruction manual for every aspect of our lives. We should read it daily. It is a treasure indeed!
FORTY YEARS AGO
It seems amazing, especially to those involved at the time, that it is forty years since the first Ministers’ Week of Prayer was held for the North American churches.
The Ulster churches had weeks of prayer for several years, usually in January, for the Northern Irish ministers. In 1985 the North American churches decided to follow suit, and the first meetings were held in Greenville, SC, with seven ministers and students present. Of those seven only the Rev. Geoff Banister, Indianapolis, is still in active service.
Nowadays there are two special times of prayer in May and October to cover the growing needs of the denomination.
PLEASE PRAY ON THIS VERSE
The world is a sinful wilderness and desert. Let us plead God’s promise at the throne of grace for revival blessing.
“Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert”. [Isaiah 43:19].
