Have you ever thought about a rainbow? Tuesday, July 4th was Independence Day. We were on our way home from a long weekend trip to San Antonio. As we were driving along, we found ourselves running into scattered rain showers. Some would last 15 minutes, and some wouldn’t last 2 minutes. The closer we got home, in East Texas, the less we saw the rain. However, we drove upon a pretty good rain on Hwy 79, between Henderson and Jacksonville. I say we drove upon it, because our windshield may have seen a dozen drops, but the rain was coming down just ahead of us. We saw something that is not seen in East Texas, as much as it used to be. We saw a full rainbow. We actually saw the end of it too. I laughed at the thought of how people say that there is a pot of gold at the end of each rainbow.
As I looked at its vibrant colors, I was reminded of the scriptures found in Genesis 9:12 - 13. "And God said, this is the token of the covenant, which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between ME and the earth." If you read the whole passage, you will find that the LORD was telling man HE would not destroy this earth with water again. HE made a covenant, or promise that HE will always keep.
What is amazing to me is that the LORD locked Noah and his family up in the ark to protect them because they had faithfully done what the LORD had told them too. He was going to destroy the earth, because HE was sick of men’s sin. People were wicked and didn’t even care about the LORD or anything about HIM. It made God sick at HIS stomach. According to Genesis 6:6, "it repented the LORD that HE had made man on the earth, and it grieved HIM at HIS heart." After the flood, God set the bow in the cloud to seal the covenant that HE made with man. What was the first thing that happened after Noah and his family was allowed out of the ark? SIN! Read the rest of chapter 9 and you will see that it didn’t take long for man to return back to the sin he was conceived in.
Independence Day is a day we celebrate, because of the freedoms we are supposed to have in America. It was, and still is, based upon the fact that we, as Americans are supposed to have freedoms to do what we want, provided it’s not illegal. As things continue to go on in life, we find ourselves loosing the freedoms that our forefathers fought so hard for us to have. We have a freedom, though, that man can never truly take away from us. It’s called worshipping God in spirit and in truth. The rainbow, which we saw, to me, is a sign of the freedoms which God gave to me. It’s a sign of peace that only HE can offer. We are undeserving of the freedoms that God has given us. We do not keep promises. We do not love our neighbors as ourselves. We do not support each other with prayer and love, and therefore we could conclude that we do not love the LORD with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our mind the way we are supposed too. We are sinners. Yet, Jesus made a way for us.
We have forgotten the facts that Jesus created us in HIS image, (Colossians 1:14-16,) and I know we have forgotten about the freedom from eternal separation from God that HE has offered us. As children of God, who have been saved by HIS marvelous grace, we still seek to find our own ways. We desire, as Paul did admit to doing, to do what we want to do, and we make excuses for ourselves until we justify it to ourselves. Sin, no matter how small it is to us, separates us from God. HE does not break the covenant HE made with us through salvation, but we turn our backs upon HIM.
Sometimes I find myself wanting to say, "What’s the use." However, I need to remember that it is not about me. It wasn’t about Noah or his family either. It is all about God and what HE desires for us. We need to seek HIM in our lives and let HIM show us what HE wants us to do. Granted; HE knows what HE has in store for us, and I sometimes wished I knew what was ahead. However, if I always knew what was in the future for me, then I wouldn’t depend upon HIM to get me there and I would miss other things that HE wants for me.
The rainbow is significant in our lives. God made a promise that HE will not break. It’s the sign of peace to me. It’s a reminder of the true independence that God offers to man. It reminds me of the God that I put faith in, for HE is our only hope and HE shows us real love. My challenge is to seek HIM in my life and remember the promises HE has made to me. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is there. If you depend upon HIM, you should be reminded of the three gifts that God gives you. HE gives us faith, hope and love, and reminds us that love is the greatest of all. HE loves us so much that HE gave us HIS only begotten SON, to die in our place. We have the opportunity to accept the free gift of salvation by accepting the love HE has shown us.
So, the next time you see a rainbow, child of God, remember to give thanks to HIM for the promises HE keeps. We need to remember that despite our wicked ways HE truly does not ever leave nor forsake us. LORD, thank you for loving me, despite my wicked ways. I know I’m undeserving of this love, but I’m thankful that you keep your promises. Help me to find YOUR will in my life. Thank you for allowing me to know the true freedom that you offer to every person. May we all come to understand the truths of your love. Amen.
