Treasures of the Snow
Chuck Sligh
December 27, 2020
A 3-slide PowerPoint presentation of this message is available by emailing me at chucksligh@hotmail.com.
TEXT: Job 38:22 – “Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? Or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail,”
INTRODUCTION
All children—and children at heart—love snow. Remember when you were a kid and the first snow would come? Remember getting the day off from school for snow and how exciting that was?— making a snowman with your mom or dad?—Having snowball fights?
Illus. – When I was a kid, I recall having massive, wonderful snowball battles. When we lived in Tennessee in the 1960s, the El Niño weather pattern was such that we got a lot more snow in those years than they do now. We had several big snows the several years I lived in Smyrna, Tennessee. And I remember that when we did, all the kids in the neighborhood would make bunkers and forts out of snow on opposing sides and we would divide up into two soldier sides (you ladies are not going to understand this at ALL!)… Then we’d make big piles of snowballs and get ready for battle… And then suddenly, out of nowhere, the first snowball bomb would come crashing in from the enemy’s side.… “Incoming! Incoming!” we yelled frantically.—“Man your battle stations!” (They probably only say that in the Navy, but we didn’t know better!)… Then we’d gather all the snowballs we could hold in one arm and yell, “CHARGE!”—and we’d run towards the enemy throwing snowballs as fast as we could, all the while getting splattered ourselves! Man!—Those were the days!
Yes, children love snow—but even old fogeys like me still like the snow even today. We may not like to stay out in it for too long; we may leave the snowmen for our youngsters to build; we may not willingly jump into the fray of a full-blown snow battle; and maybe three or four flights down the hill on the sled are good enough for us these days; but we still love the snow.
Our text talks about “treasures in the snow.” I got to thinking about that. How appropriate at this time of year! We were all dreaming of a white Christmas, but we didn’t get one this year! Maybe we’ll have better luck next Christmas.
Well, as we embark on 2012, I want you to think about a few things today, and the vehicle I want to use to spur your thinking is snow. A field of new snow is fascinating. It’s exciting to be the one who breaks the first trail in a new blanket of snow. By the end of the day, there are many trails going off in different directions.
You know, each new year of your life is like a pristine field of freshly fallen snow. You stand poised on the edge, ready to step out into it. As you do so, I want you to consider the following four truths:
I. FIRST, NOTE THAT YOU WILL DETERMINE YOUR OWN COURSE.
If you were to embark on a little hike in a field of new-fallen snow, you’d have to decide which way to go, and YOU would be responsible for the direction you took. And as you begin 2012, it’s YOU who will decide the course you’ll take, and YOU will be the one who’ll answer for the decisions you make.
The Bible tells us of a man named Joshua who came to a “new time” in his life. After forty years wandering in the wilderness, followed by intense battles as they entered the Promised Land, Joshua and the Israelites were ready to claim their land. Before they did, Joshua made the rest of the people to understand that they had a choice to make. While in Egypt, many Israelites had fallen into idolatry, and as they entered the land of the Amorites, Joshua knew that they might again be enticed into idolatry of the gods of the Amorites. As they launched out to claim their land of promise, they had to choose the road they would travel, and ultimately live with the consequences. Listen to what Joshua said in Joshua 24:15: “…choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
You, dear friend, have a similar choice to make. You have to decide whether you’ll serve God or the gods of this world.
What are the gods of this world?—They’re the gods of materialism, pleasure, immorality, selfishness, and covetousness and self-centeredness. Ultimately, though, you have a choice between God and your own will. And whatever choice you make, you must account for it on the Day of Judgment. Paul warns us in Romans 14:12, “So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” And Hebrews 9:27 says, “…it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”
If you’ve never come to Christ as your Savior, today you have a choice—Will you serve GOD—or the world or yourself or your friends or money or man’s approval?
Maybe you’re already saved this morning. Your choice is different, and yet it’s much the same as that which Joshua presented to the Israelites. You too may have a god in your life you need to forsake to walk close to God.
God says to you this morning—“CHOOSE ye this day.” Which will it be?—The God of heaven or some cheap temporal THING or ACTIVITY or HABIT of this life that you know does not please the Lord?
You see, you have a choice—and you must some day answer for that choice—as to whether you choose to serve GOD, or to serve YOUR OWN SELF, and YOUR OWN SELFISH DESIRES, and YOUR OWN SINFUL PLEASURES. My pastor used to say, “There are only two choices on the shelf—pleasing God, or pleasing self.”
Which will it be for you today?
II. SECOND, CONSIDER THIS—AS YOU EMBARK ON 2012, YOU WILL LEAVE YOUR MARK FOR OTHERS TO SEE.
You’ll leave an indelible mark—one way or the other—if you take off on a hike in a newly-fallen snow.
Illus. – I remember when I was a little boy in rural Smyrna, Tennessee, going out shortly after a snowstorm. I loved to go out in the snow and be by myself. I went out into the snow one morning and came to the field where the cemetery was on the edge of town over by old man Clever’s woods. I climbed over the wire fence that surrounded the cemetery and separated it from our housing area.
After going a short distance I saw huge paw prints…and I mean REALLY big! To me, these were not dog prints, at least not any dog I could imagine. They were at least seven or eight inches wide (or so I remember it).
Suddenly I looked around in all directions as a cold chill ran down my spine. I’d never heard of bears being in our area, but I was scared to death. And being out in the cemetery, on the edge of the woods, away from everybody on a cold, dreary, foggy day made it even scarier. I followed these huge tracks into Old Man Cleaver’s woods and at the edge of the wood I debated whether to follow on. I could just see the headlines in the town paper: “Boy Found Dead in Local Farmer’s Woods” with the sub-heading: “Body parts found over two acre area. Apparent victim of bear attack.” Now I had always wanted to be in the newspaper, but that’s not exactly what I had in mind!
Well, I never did find out what made those tracks in the snow, but here’s my point—a path in the snow leaves an unmistakable mark. Whether man or beast, a distinct path is made when passing through a field of new-fallen snow.
And you know what—YOU are leaving an indelible mark in YOUR path—either for good or for bad. What KIND of a mark are you making with your life?
• Parents, what kind of a mark are you making on your children?
Are you leaving a mark that reveals to them a parent who loves them, who cares about them, who wants only God’s best for them, who sacrifices for them, who guides them, who disciplines them? Or are you leaving a mark that shows disrespect, dishonor, neglect, a lack of love or patience or either no discipline or discipline that is too harsh?
• What kind of a mark are you leaving on the job, Christian?
Are you known to be a “goldbrick”; a complainer; disloyal; willing to give only what is required of you, and that with a bad attitude? Or are you known as a hard worker with a great attitude, who can be counted on to be honest and just and fair and loyal—in other words, to actually ACT like a REAL Christian?
Folks, I want you to know that people are watching you! People are looking for something real in life. They’re looking for reality—for a REAL CHRISTIAN!
I don’t want to minimize the importance of giving the Gospel with our words, because ultimately no one can come to faith in Christ without hearing or reading God’s Word. But our lives are themselves what Paul called “living epistles” that leave a mark on people’s lives and either turn people towards or away from Christ:
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day:
I’d rather one should walk with me, than merely show the way;
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example’s always clear.
And best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you’ll let me see it done;
I can see your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very fine and true;
But I’d rather get my lesson by observing what you do;
For I may not understand you and the high advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
—Edgar A. Guest
Never forget that people are watching your life, and you are leaving a mark.
III. THIRD, NOTE THIS: AS YOU EMBARK ON 2012, YOU WILL DETERMINE WHERE OTHERS WILL WALK.
Did you ever follow in someone else’s tracks in the snow?
Illus. – I remember once when we had a two-foot snow in Smyrna, Tennessee— something rare even then. I’d gone out into the snow early that morning and it was really futile, because the snow was so deep and so soft that when I stepped down into the snow, the snow went so far up my legs, I couldn’t walk in it. So I just gave up and went back into the house. That afternoon Dad said, “Hey, let’s all go over to the Shooks”—a family that lived next door. They were a lot of fun, but I knew it was going to be tough getting over our acre of land to their house. But it turned out not be so bad after all—because Dad went before me with his big, long legs. Everywhere he had gone, I could just step into his tracks and it was easy going.
Well, you can just count on it, folks—people will follow your trail through life. It’s simply a fact of life—you will influence and impact others by the decisions you make in your life—and that’s especially true with your children.
• If you refuse to accept God’s free gift of salvation and serve God, don’t be surprised if your children follow you right into hell!
• If you’re a believer—insofar as you failed to live a consistently godly life before your children, they’ll probably reflect those same attitudes, or they may become bitter at your hypocrisy and perhaps even reject the Lord altogether. If you curse, don’t be surprised if your kids pick it up too. If you’re dishonest, don’t be surprised if your kids pick up that trait. If you are bitter and unforgiving, don’t be shocked if your kids become bitter and unforgiving too, only this time it may be directed at YOU.
I’m telling you folks, we’re talking about very serious business here! It’s true that ultimately, every person must answer for his own life, but don’t misunderstand—you do influence where others walk. If that were not true, Paul would not have told us not to do anything that is a stumbling block for another person. God help us to walk in God’s ways and please God by the choices we make in 2012, beginning this morning!
IV. FINALLY, REMEMBER THIS: YOU WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK BACK AND SEE WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN.
Illus. – Now imagine with me again the field of new-fallen snow. You launch out in the snow and you go wherever you wish all over the field to explore and enjoy the snow. Then when you get to the other end of the field, you turn around and what do you see?— You see your trail of footsteps.… You see the detours you took.… You see where you slipped into that hole and got all snowy and wet.… You see where you took little bitty steps to keep from slipping, and where you took long strides, perhaps running.
You can see all of that as you look back, and someday, friend, you’ll look back on your life and you’ll review the choices you’ve made.
• You’ll look over and review the mistakes you have made. You’ll see your wrong choices, and the consequences of those choices. You’ll see where you did not serve God when you could have; where you gave in to temptation instead of standing fast in God’s power, and the people you hurt by doing it. You’ll see the people you hurt because of your mean or unforgiving spirit.
• Or maybe you’ll look back and see many RIGHT decisions you made, and you’ll see the blessings of God that flowed from those right decisions. – You’ll see good things, and wonderful things, and precious things— even in the things that looked like trials and troubles and “bad” things years before, but now you have the perspective of Romans 8:28: “…all things work together for good to them who love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
• For most of us, we’ll probably look back and see a mixture of both good and bad.
The key is to turn bad into good by confessing your sins and failures to God, making things right with those you’ve hurt, and determine that you’ll make the right choices in your life in the future.
Someday, [PAUSE FOR EFFECT] I want to exit this world like the Apostle Paul: Shortly before his death, he looked back over his Christian life and saw a life of right decisions after his “Road to Damascus” experience when he was saved. He said in 2 Timothy 4:6-8 – “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand [in other words, he was about to be executed]. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
Wow!—What a way to go out! What a way to end your life!—“I have fought at good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” But do you know why Paul could look back and make those statements? It all goes back to my very first point: that you will determine your own course you your choices.
CONCLUSION
Folks, you have a choice to make right now!
• It may be the choice to choose Christ as your Savior and be saved from sin.
Joshua’s words ring in my ears, “Choose ye this day whom you will serve…” Who is it you will serve? Jesus woos you with open arms and says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30) Would you come to Jesus today? Would you choose HIM today? I invite you to put your trust in Jesus as your Savior who died on the cross for your sins to give you forgiveness and an eternal place in heaven.
• It may be that you’re already a Christian.
Perhaps you too have a choice you need to make today. Maybe it’s to surrender some sin that’s holding you back in your fellowship with the Lord. It may be something you SHOULD be doing that you are not. Maybe it’s to obey God and follow Him in believer’s baptism. Possibly it’s to SURRENDER FOR FULL-TIME SERVICE. Perhaps it’s to JOIN THIS CHURCH. I don’t know what it may be—but God is giving you a choice to make, and then you will answer to God for that choice.
Today is the first day of the new year. What’s in store for you in 2012? Much of it depends upon key choices you make. It’s not too late to make some right choices NOW that can have positive effects not only in the next year, but in all the years to come. Obey the voice of the Holy Spirit this morning and do what He’s telling you to do.
