Beauty and Brightness

Job 9:30-33

After a snowstorm there is always a beauty and a brightness in its aftereffects. A beauty because all the dirt, mud, trash, and all other things that defiles our earth is covered by the whiteness of snow. The brightness comes from the sun shining upon the snow to give more than just light, but a radiant light. In this phenomenon of nature, we have to great spiritual lessons.

First, the beauty of the earth after a fresh falling snow. Snow is considered to be the purest of all of God creation. In fact, Job trying to understand his dilemma and longing for purity of heart cried out in desperation “If I wash myself in snow water…” Job 9:30 Snow water was considered to be one of the purest forms of water to cleanse the dirty body. But what he realized was that it wasn’t pure enough to cleanse the sin-stained soul. He knew that only a mediator (Daysman) could do that. The spirit of the coming mediator cries out through the prophet Isaiah saying, “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isaiah 1:18 This mediator is none other than Jesus Christ who is the “The Sun of righteousness who has risen with healing in his wings.” Malachi 4:2 Only Jesus can cleanse the sin-stained soul. No good work or deed is sufficient. No religious ritual can satisfy. No amount of psychology or sociology will suffice. Only the shed blood of Jesus that when applied by faith can make one whole again.

Speaking of the Sun of righteousness we come to our second point. The Brightness. The brightness and brilliance of the sun's rays shining upon the snow-covered landscape is one that can’t be gazed upon to long without it affecting one's eyes. The purity of the snow in conjunction with the brightness of the light creates a brilliance like none other. Our spiritual application here is that when Jesus, in whom is Malachi’s Sun of righteousness looks upon one of his cleansed and forgiven servants it creates a light that cannot be hidden. That’s why Jesus said in his Sermon on the Mount “You are the light of the world; a city set upon a hill which cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:16 Just as snow covers the earth and gives it a look of purity and a sense of peace (because it absorbs sound), we are reminded of our place and purpose as the church in this world.

Beauty and Brightness! These are two unique qualities that we possess when God “Rains righteousness upon the earth.” Hosea 10:12

Pastor Robby