Most boys and girls know what a snowman looks like. Maybe some of you have even made one using pieces of coal for the eyes and mouth, a carrot for the nose, plunking an old hat on top of his head, and tying a scarf around his neck. As much fun as it is to build a snowman, he is just a figure made out of snow and not really alive.
But this is a true story about a young Korean boy, Kim Bin Lin, who was a living snowman.
This little snowman lived in South Korea. Korea is many thousands of miles away from our land. It is on the other side of the Pacific Ocean. At the time of our story it was early winter. The farmers of South Korea were getting ready for their usual snow and ice. After they had sold their crops and paid their bills, they did not have much money left.
Kim lived about 50 miles away from the big city of Seoul. He lived on a farm with his parents and younger brothers and sisters. His father and mother were Christians, and so was he. They did not have a Bible to help them learn more about the Lord Jesus. And they lived far away from any other Christian that might have one. To get to the nearest village they had to climb over a high mountain.
One day a man came to a village 12 miles away from them selling Bibles. Most people were too poor to buy his Bibles. The man told them they could pay for a Bible with rice, beans, chickens or whatever they raised on their farms.
That was a good idea. Soon the man’s van had no more Bibles, because he had sold all of them. Instead of his van being full of Bibles, it was full of rice, beans, chickens and eggs when he returned to Seoul.
The next week the man came back with more Bibles. The market place inside a building was crowded and noisy. People pushed and shoved to find room to stand. Chickens cackled, ducks quacked, and boxes of eggs, bags of rice and beans took up much of the space. Outside the wind was howling, and the snow was swirling around.
Suddenly there was a pounding noise on the door. The door was pushed open, and a flurry of snow blew into the room. Then something looking like a snowman slowly hobbled in. Everyone stared at the walking snowman. Some people began to scrape off the snow.
Under all that snow was Kim Bin Lin. His face was icy cold, but it also glowed with excitement. His legs were stiff from the cold, because his clothes were heavy and icy with snow. He walked very slowly toward the man who was selling the Bibles. Kim was struggling with a big bag of beans.
“I live on the other side of the mountain,” said Kim. “I have walked 12 miles. I want to buy a Bible with these beans. May I have one?”
The man looked at Kim. Was this really true? Would a young boy walk 12 miles over such a high mountain pass in such a blizzard? The trail was narrow, slippery and accompanied by strong winds even in good weather. But in this blizzard it was even more dangerous. However, there he stood. Kim had done all that for a Bible.
“Yes, you certainly may have a Bible,” answered the man. “Now tell me, how did you find your way in this storm?”
“I lost the trail a couple of times. Once I nearly fell over the edge. The path was so slippery and narrow; I could hardly find it because of the snow. I was afraid I wouldn’t get here in time. I hurried as much as I could, because this was my only chance to get a Bible.”
Kim got his Bible. He stayed in the building until the blizzard was over. Then a very happy Kim started for home. He carefully carried the well-wrapped Book for which he had risked so much. He was taking home the Word of God!
How many of us who have a Bible in our home prize it the way Kim did? We will if we stop to think about its wonderful message. It explains how God loves us so much that He sent the Lord Jesus, the only Son He had, to go through an awful death. He died for us so that we can go free. The Bible also shows us how we can live to please the Lord Jesus. Something else it tells us is that He is coming back very soon, maybe even today, to take everyone to heaven who is free from their sins. (Have you asked the Lord Jesus to take away your sins so that you can go to heaven too?) How wonderful it is to have a copy of God’s Word! Are you reading it every day?
ML-01/24/1982