"Snow Come Down From Heaven"

Snowy Owl

"As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish,

so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

so is my word that goes out from my mouth:

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:10-11

While driving around in the country and observing Snowy Owls this winter, I really have thought they were like, "snow come down from heaven." The phenomenon of seeing so many of these unexpected winter visitors is a wondrous gift to those of us who get to witness these owls. In the Bible, Isaiah compared the gifts of rain and snow to God's Word. Just as rain and snow have a purpose: "watering the earth and making it bud and flourish," the sending of God's Word into the world will also "acheive the purpose for which I sent it." 

In the Gospel of John, we read that "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us" John 1:14. The Word that became flesh is Jesus. According to the Bible, God had a specific purpose in sending His Son to dwell among us: "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him" John 3:17.

I cannot be certain of the reason so many Snowy Owls have "come down from heaven" this winter. I am just glad they came. I can, however, be certain of the reason that Jesus came down from heaven and "made His dwelling among us." God sent His Son to "save the world through Him." He came to bring salvation and eternal life to me and to you. What a wonderful gift!