This week was one of the coldest and snowiest in California’s history. It was the end of February when most of the country expects cold and snow, but in California, we expect sunny skies and warm days, even in winter. This winter was different.
One of the most striking moments came when the mountains near our home were blanketed with snow, and my usual beige and brown view was stark white against a sapphire blue sky.
It was stunning. So breathtaking, in fact, that I couldn’t resist getting a better look, so I hopped in my car to find a view unobstructed by telephone poles and rooftops. Several others had the same inspiration, and I found myself enjoying the moment with others who were also driving up higher to capture the beauty.
The mountains are always in our view, but with the snow dusting them, they were transformed from their commonness into sight to behold. It was worth the time to drive around, pause, and soak in the panoramas. Our regular community had become a breathtaking sight.
Christ does this for us as well.
The commonness of our lives, the frailty, the beige, and regularness become a vessel for displaying the great and out-of-the-ordinary power and glory of God. Even more, we become a vision of hope for the world. It’s not that we are anything in ourselves to see – it’s the light we have because of Him. Dusted with snow, the mountains became a new view, a glorious scene, magical, powerful, and stunning. The view brought people out of their homes to capture it. It brought us together to share in the wonder.
Filled with His light, our lives do the same. Without Him, we are driven to despair and are mundane vessels of weariness. With Him, we have a treasure that transforms us, and in our lives shines the light of the glory of God – the light this world needs. God’s purpose in our lives is for us to live so that people are baffled. “What’s a regular person like you doing with so much hope and power?”
Like the usually beige and boring hills covered in pure white snow, people come out to see that view. The mountains didn’t change; the snow transformed them and brought people out to wonder in the beauty. May our lives in Christ do the same.
“But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.” 2 Corinthians 4:7
This post is an excerpt from the “Corinthians: Love & Light” Bible study, Lesson 10. You can get the complete study here.
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