Sometimes, we all need a visual reminder of God’s grace and power—an illustrated sermon that touches the heart. Today, I want to share a picture I took outside of a deer standing in the snow that brought this to mind, recalling the large white sash that surrounded the large tree, declaring we are white as snow when the blood of Jesus covers us.
See the huge picture window. Well, that window was my heart’s purpose when our church was being built.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).
Every Christmas at River Church, we displayed a majestic tree in the sanctuary. The Last Christmas together, we placed two trees with presents beneath the branches for each child who attended, and extras awaiting visiting children. Our heartfelt goal was that no child would leave on Christmas without a gift. The tree also featured a sash encircling it, inscribed with Isaiah 1:18, serving as a beautiful visual of the snow that blanketed the world outside the very window behind it.
Through that window, each new season in the Sanctuary, we would catch glimpses of His glorious creation that spoke straight to each of our hearts.
When we set out to build the River church in 2004, my heart envisioned a grand window in the sanctuary, soaring nearly 23 feet to the ceiling. It was a vision I held dear, and God smiled upon it. We stumbled upon a remarkable opportunity—a local window company was closing its doors, and they practically gifted us that huge window. What a blessing it was! It brought such peace to know that as we gathered to worship, to read Scripture, and to share the gospel, we would be surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation from outside in.
Interestingly, during the construction, the loudest critic was a pastor from the area. It seemed he could not grasp the purpose behind the vision God had given me. And no, he wasn’t a Jehovah’s Witness. If you know, you know.
As we began holding services over the years, it became clear why God had a plan for that window.
I’ll never forget our first Christmas in that sanctuary. As I spoke about how our sins are washed as white as snow, the skies opened up, and snowflakes began to fall, we beheld a living picture of God’s creation, another perfect God illustration. Some of you reading this will remember the beautiful reminder of the sermon from Psalm 42, when, in perfect timing, a deer just happened to be in view. It wasn’t just a sight; it was a divine moment. Many times, we looked out that window and were met with a living masterpiece of God’s creation, like a painting hanging on the wall.
I’m filled with gratitude for that time we spent together, reflecting on the purpose of that building project. It wasn’t about a structure; it was about God’s people. That window became a portal through which the beauty of the Word was illustrated. I remember one particular day when a thunderstorm rolled in while I was speaking about God’s omnipotence. Just as I emphasized His authority and majesty, thunder crashed, and lightning struck just outside that very window. Though no one was harmed, it served as another vivid illustration of the power of God we were there to celebrate. Each moment was a reminder that, in His creation and in His house, we are surrounded by His grace and glory.
The window received a gift from a Bride
One evening, just days before my daughter’s wedding, as I opened the set of double doors into the sanctuary, I was met with a scene that took my breath away. There she was, my creative daughter, gently guiding yards and yards of fabric through her sewing machine. Long, flowing pieces of the most exquisite silk—iridescent and soft—lay before her, each strand whispering of beauty and grace. She was sewing curtains for the majestic window in our sanctuary on her wedding day, which would frame the large window, transforming it into a vision of splendor. In that moment, my heart was overflowing with a vision that would forever be a memory placed in my mind
We all gasped with awe and wonder
When she had completed her masterpiece, we gasped with awe and wonder as the curtains she had sewn draped elegantly around the arched window, resembling a magnificent wedding veil, catching the light and casting a heavenly glow. Visitors who entered the sanctuary were always enchanted, their eyes drawn to the stunning display surrounding the grand window. It was a sight to behold, a testament to love and creativity.
And oh, how we came to possess that glorious bolt of fabric! It was a surprise gift from heaven, delivered by a semi-truck filled with a myriad of treasures—everything from kitchen sinks to toys. As we sifted through the bounty, there it was: a vast roll of Italian silk, a wonder among the ordinary. We often pondered its purpose, wondering why God had chosen to bless us with such a precious gift.
But that night, as I watched my daughter at work, stitching dreams into reality, it became abundantly clear. God had a plan. In that moment, I realized that every thread of that fabric was woven with purpose, just as each moment of our lives is intricately designed by His loving hands. And so, the curtains became more than just decoration. Still, a symbol of divine intention, a reminder that in the grand tapestry of life, every piece has its place, and every story unfolds beautifully in His time.
That was the whole purpose, that was my vision. It was to be like a masterpiece of a picture that would hang upon the walls of God’s sanctuary, and it wouldn’t be a picture created by any man; it was his creation, the outside view of his handiwork framed on display for all eyes to behold.
This was my view today: white snow delicately blanketing the ground, while the deer gaze into my eyes. Each snowflake carries the fingerprints of God.
Psalm 147:15-18 beautifully captures winter:
“He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly. He spreads snow like wool; He scatters the frost like ashes; He casts out His hail like morsels; Who can stand before His cold? He sends out His word and melts them; He causes His wind to blow, and the waters flow.”
The psalmist reflects on how even in the biting cold, God’s power is evident. Snow, frost, hail—these are reminders of His might in creation. And when He sends forth His word to melt the icy boundaries, it’s another testament to His authority.
“Just as I have witnessed how He can melt the hardest heart with His Word, through the purpose of His Holy Spirit, causing the waters of tears to flow.”
Let’s remember Job 38:22:
“Have you entered the treasury of snow, or have you seen the treasury of hail?”
Isaiah 55:10-11 confirms,
“For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”
It’s true that snow and rain fulfill their purposes on Earth, so does God’s word, always effective and purposeful. His words hold power, bringing transformation and purpose to our lives.
Consider King David, who, after deep sin, cried out to God in repentance, longing to be made “whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:7). Snow, in its beauty, reminds us of the grace that covers our sins through Jesus’s blood.
When we wander outside into a winter wonderland, we should proclaim, “Just like my sins, no darkness remains” (1 John 1:7). Each accumulation of snow declared His grace—abundant and overflowing (John 1:16).
Snow speaks to the purifying power of the cross, and it points us directly to Christ. In Daniel 7:9, when he sees the Ancient of Days, he describes Him as having clothing “white as snow.” The dazzling brightness of Christ during the transfiguration was akin to radiant snow (Mark 9:3). When John caught a vision of Him, he noted that “the hairs of His head were white, like white wool, like snow” (Revelation 1:14).
Snow serves a profound purpose: to visually remind us that the grace of Jesus has covered our sins.
People in different places have varied feelings about snow. For some, it’s a beautiful winter wonderland, while for others, it brings challenges like power outages and icy roads. But in every scenario, we must remember the promise: “Though your sins are scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are crimson red, they will be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18).
Jesus cleanses us completely. He doesn’t just make us mostly clean; He makes us entirely new, holy through His holiness. No matter how filthy our rags, He transforms us to be whiter than snow. So, the next time you wake up to a winter landscape, let the beauty of snow preach the gospel and point you toward our savior.
