I remember being at the top of Rockefeller Center in New York City looking out onto the deadness of a wintry Central Park. Is that really the beautiful park I once walked through enjoying live theatre, sitting in the lush green grass while having a summer picnic? It was. But, the coldness of winter had dried up the grass, the leaves had fallen and it was now a barren brown forest of branches. It wasn’t until a few days later, during a beautiful snowfall, that the park was transformed into a majestic wintery wonderland.
Covered in a white blanket of snow, the once-dead park took on a purity that was absolutely breathtaking. The snow was untouched, soft, glistening; transforming a New York City icon into a sight so beautiful that I had to try and capture as many images as possible to remember the moment.
Not only that, but the park was filled with laughter.
What was once dead was now filled with life. Kids sledding and building a snowman (yes, I took part in those activities too!) When you place the two pictures side by side, you see on display a beautiful, transformative dichotomy.
I left that moment thinking about life and the effect of sin in life. When I look at the picture taken from Rockefeller Center, the one of the dead parkland, I can’t help but think that’s what sin does to us. Sin leaves us feeling dead, barren and dry. It can isolate us, bring shame, and even cause us to question who we are. But seeing the two images of the park—the transformation—brought the words of scripture to life in a new and fresh way.
Isaiah 1:18 tells us “Come now, let us reason together says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” The snow covered the lifeless park, just like Jesus’ grace covers our sin. The snow brought the park to life, just like life with Jesus is a life abundant.
The snow was an image of purity, not because the park did anything, but because the snow created a newness. The park was now new because the snow came and covered the blemishes, just like Jesus died on the cross and rose again. If we believe in Him, we are new creations.
We have a new life. The snow created beauty and wonder and new purpose in the park. Just like in Jesus, we can live a life in wonder at the things He has done. We have traded the old for a beautiful newness in Him and we are given a new purpose.
The next time you see snow, think of the saving grace of Jesus that covers your sins and takes them from a sinful scarlet to a beautiful purity that is white as snow.