A RAINBOW SURPRISE!
I have set My rainbow in the clouds,
and it will be the sign of the covenant
between Me and the Earth (Genesis 9:13)
Early last Thursday morning as I was getting ready for the day, I couldn't ignore the hue of pink that shown through the sheer curtains of my bathroom window. As I walked through the house looking outside, the uncanny pink glow filled the air. It wasn't until my husband was heading out for the day and called me to come outside that I became aware of what God was beckoning me to see. To my surprise there was a brilliant colored rainbow streaming
across the pink sky that was perfectly arched over our home. I ran to grab my phone to capture this spectacular rainbow, one like no other I'd seen, and a double one at
that! Tucker, our son, had come out to see for himself. The three of us just stood there and took in
the breathtaking moment. It was absolutely stunning! By the time our daughter,
Tess, arrived it had quickly faded away.
As I stood on the hill above our garage looking for the best angle, I noticed Tucker was captured in the image as I clicked the camera. When I later looked at the picture again, I realized he was standing in the same area where I had heard the earth-shattering news that changed my life. The driveway that, all too often, brings back horrible memories of the evil that had befallen our home not so long ago, was being covered with a rainbow. A rainbow surprise! The Creator had orchestrated this precise event and moment to speak to me without saying a word. God is in the business of new ! I now had a new thought to replace the old one with. When those bad memories come back, and I know they will, I can quickly take captive those thoughts and replace them with my rainbow promise. He has a plan and purpose for every moment of every day of our lives even when it sometimes seems to be an interruption to our plans. When I take time to absorb His beauty, He fills my heart with a lasting impression. He has been faithful to replace other bad images and memories with new, good ones and He had done it again! I continue to be amazed by His love, faithfulness, and abundant grace. He is making ALL THINGS NEW! He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then He said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." (Revelation 21:5)
Every
time I see a rainbow, I’m reminded of God’s promise in the Bible to Noah and
his family. As they exited the ark, Noah gave thanks, built an altar, and laid
upon it an offering to the Lord, and gave himself and his family to God and
promised to do God’s will. God was pleased. Then, God caused a rainbow to
appear in the sky. He told Noah and his sons that whenever they or the
people after them should see a rainbow they should remember that God had
placed it in the sky and over the clouds as a sign of His promise that He would
always remember the Earth, and the people upon it, and would never again cover
the Earth with a flood to destroy them no matter how bad they may be (Genesis 9:16-17).
Many times we fail or forget to keep our promises, but unlike us, God never fails or never forgets to keep His. He was visually using His amazing artistry to send me another message in my storm. God sent me a message recently by using an Alabama football magazine (see "Return to Glory" post), but this time He used the sky as He covered our home with a rainbow umbrella of promise. He is working all things together for good to those that love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
Later
that evening I picked up a new book I'd been reading called, “All Things New - The Revelation; What It
Means and Why It Matters” by Jack Graham. We who are still alive when the Lord
Jesus is revealed will be “caught up” together with them (the dead in Christ
already in Heaven) in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thessalonians
4:17). The author then states, when we enter into His glorious presence we’re
going to see and experience some unbelievable sights.
…a throne stood in Heaven, and one seated on the throne. And He who sat there had the
appearance of jasper and carnelian . . . (Revelation 4:2).
The author goes on to mention that the word "throne" is used 47 times in the book of Revelation. Here, John sees God, the sovereign ruler of the universe, on the throne.
And then I saw what I hadn't read before, verse 3
of Revelation says this “. . . around the throne was a rainbow.”
Oh, wow,
“a rainbow” I thought. I read further,
"It’s going to be beautiful in
Heaven, beyond your wildest imagination! God loves color, and glorious colors
surround His throne! The rainbow speaks of God’s eternal promise. Typically the
rainbow shows up at the end of a storm, but in this case the rainbow of promise
shows up in Heaven before the storm is unleashed upon the Earth," writes Jack Graham.
There wasn't a storm per se on Thursday, but there was rain. Just like the author mentioned, this rainbow came before the storm. I had never seen a
rainbow come before the storm (rain) and this one had made a grand entrance! The pictures do not do it justice. God was telling me He is still seated on His throne, is concerned about every minute detail of my life, and was showing me there are more rainbow promises to come in Heaven before God's judgment comes (Revelation 6-18).
Every time a rainbow shines in the world -it's a witness of God's promise. A promise is made stronger with a symbol (like a handshake) and/or made in the presence of many witnesses. This gives more credence to both parties that the promise will be kept. Scripture tells us colorful rainbows will be a part of Heaven. Rainbows are a taste of beauty believers look forward to in our future heavenly dwelling. Even though the rainbow represents God's promises to us on Earth; it also beams with the hope of Heaven in our hearts. The ultimate promise God makes to every believer is that their future Home is in Heaven. The rainbow will remain long after this Earth is past. Remember, when you witness a rainbow -know that God will keep His promises in spite of hardship, trials, persecution or any other life altering circumstances (www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com).
"For no matter how many promises God has made, they are 'Yes' in Christ" (2 Corinthians 1:20). God's Word contains thousands of Bible promises waiting to be claimed in faith.
Just as you love to plan surprises for those who understand, and joy in them, so with Me. I love to plan them for those who see My love and tender joy in them (God Calling by A.J. Russell).
God had shown me all this by sending a double rainbow surprise! His timing is always perfect. And He had chosen Clark David's birthday month of March to proclaim His handiwork to me!
The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge (Psalm 19:1-2).
Look for the beauty and joy in your trials and suffering and you just might find Jesus!
* Music is one way God started applying His balm to my bereaved heart. You can click on capitalized words which are links to songs that continue to bring solace to my soul. Highlighted words are links to articles.
"I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry . . .
He put a new song in my mouth . . ." (Psalm 40:1-3)
