I Saw a Rainbow!

It was Thursday, May 9, 2002, at 8:45 AM. I had just dropped Jean off at the entrance of Penney's at the Galleria Mall in Johnstown PA and pulled into a parking spot a short distance away. Suddenly a shower began and as I picked up my tablet to do some writing I looked out the passenger side window and saw a rainbow. I always get excited on those rare occasions when I see one.

This rainbow was bright and the arch was complete -- sometimes you may only see a partial bow. So I just gazed and began to remember the significance of that brilliant spectrum of colors which stood between me and the clouds above.

Immediately was the recall of God's covenant promise and the witness of the rainbow in the book of Genesis.

Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: "And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth." And God said: "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth." And God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth." Genesis 9:8-17 NKJV

But I didn't limit it to that scene in Genesis 9 -- I had much more ground to cover as I immersed myself in the blessing of a spectacular rainbow. It further reminded me of ---

God's immeasurable love for a world full of sinners

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 NKJV

being totally forgiven of all my sins through Jesus Christ

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NKJV

a Savior Who encourages me to bring all my cares to Him

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV Cast your burden on the LORD, And He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Psalm 55:22 NKJV

never being alone and always having instant help available

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NKJV Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 NKJV

having a place of refuge in times of trouble

God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah Psalm 46:1-3 NKJV

assurance that I will be the winner in every battle with temptation

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV

His promise to show me great things

Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know. Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV

His encouragement for me to pray and to expect results

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Matthew 7:7-11 NKJV

His preparation of a special place for me to dwell in forever

Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3 NKJV

of the fact that this promised place is the perfect environment since
there are no troubles and it is completely pain and stress free

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." Revelation 21:1-5 NKJV

the fact that I am in line to receive an inheritance which human words cannot fully describe
nor can the human mind fully comprehend

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. Romans 8:16-18 NKJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV

promised assurance that I shall appear with Jesus
and share in His glory forever

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:1-3 NKJV

The rainbow lasted but a couple of minutes or so and then quickly disappeared. Just about that time a lady in a giant SUV pulled in beside me on the passenger side and parked. That Ford Expedition XLT completely blocked the view where I had seen the rainbow, and if it had been parked there earlier, I never would have seen the rainbow -- a reminder that the world constantly throws stuff at us in an effort to distract us or to blot out the remembrance of God's wonderful promises!

But guess what? All the Ford Expedition XLT's in the world will never remove the beauty of that moment when I saw a spectacular rainbow and I began to remember what God has promised!

Uh, how about next time when you see a rainbow, try running down a list of God's wonderful promises -- it will really make your day and bolster your confidence for the future! And now you know what I did with that tablet I was picking up as I noticed something beautiful in the sky