Storm Clouds and Rainbows

The other day I was driving back to my office headed north on highway 15 when I spied a beautiful rainbow set against the dark background of a storm cloud. The cloud was ominous and forboding and reminded me of somthing you would see in a horror movie or something. The rainbow, though faint, was beautiful and very defined. As I approached the church, the rainbow seemed to disappear into the church though my view was somewhat obscured. I initially thought, "That must be a sign!" Then I caught myself speculating what the "sign" could mean. Once I realized I was doing that I stopped and God brought to memory the facts about the rainbow. He gave the rainbow as a sign of the covenant he made with Noah to never destroy the world with water, again.

I was reminded in that stark scene of the trustworthiness of God. Right there in front of me was God showing me what he has revealed in his word and that is that God is with us always - even in the midst of the storm! Not only is God with us in the storm, God provides for us (often times) through the storm. In this case, he provided needed rain. In another more metaphysical state, God provides opportunities for reconcilation in the storms of relationship. He provides abilities to be used in the battle against sin and the devil! He provides any and everything we need to live the Christian life and we owe it to ourselves, our extended family and most of all to God to live purely and holy and walk circumspect in the world.

So I saw this rainbow and thought, "How cool? God is showing himself through his creation!" Then I realized that God wants to show himself through me. the problem with that is that I am often so self-centered and sinful that God can't use me. God wants to be in fellowship with his people! Noah and the very first rainbow are evidence of that! Had God not wanted to have fellowship with his creation, He would have destroyed Noah and his family along with the rest of sinful humanity - but He didn't. Because of the great love He has for us, though, God has made a way for us to enter into salvation. By grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone! That truth is revealed in the same place God revealed the truth about the rainbow - His Word! Could you imagine what kind of crazy things I would have come up with about that rainbow I saw if I didn't know what God's Word said about the rainbow? Wonder how many crazy things you come up with when you fail to know and apply God's Word?