* At the End of the Rainbow

Then God said, “I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is the sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth. When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds, and I will remember my covenant with you and with all living creatures. Never again will the floodwaters destroy all life. When I see the rainbow in the clouds, I will remember the eternal covenant between God and every living creature on earth.” [underline emphasis is mine]
Genesis 9:8-17 NLT

This morning, I had the illustrated sermon of this Scripture passage. It was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience! You may find it a little hard to believe, but every word of it is true... However, before I tell you about it, let me backtrack just a little.

God has been RE-establishing in me the importance of first-time obedience. We get older, we get more laid-back, and many times, we develop an "I'll-get-to-it-eventually" attitude. You can best believe that didn't work for me when my kids were growing up, and I'm sure, God doesn't like it, either.

This morning, I felt impressed to make a phone call. I knew in my heart it was the Holy Spirit, but I didn't reach for the phone at that moment. I thought, "Let me finish getting ready for work, and then I'll call." And instantly, I heard, "When the Lord speaks, if it's not first-time obedience, it's rebellion." I do NOT want to walk in rebellion. I want to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I want to hear God's instruction and be trusted to immediately respond. I picked up the phone and dialed, as I asked for forgiveness. And I don't know how to explain this to you, but after the phone call, it was as though I could feel that God was pleased with me. That was cool, but that is not the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience.

As I left for work, it began to rain. In my "aware of God" moment, I thanked Him for it instead of complaining that I was getting wet. As I got a couple miles down the road, the sun was shining like there was no rain even though it continued to rain. I started looking for a rainbow. I knew there was going to be one. And sure enough, up ahead and to the left, the arc of the bow began to form. I knew it was going to be a good one with the bright sun behind me and the heavy downpour in front of me. It was wide and very vibrant and in a matter of minutes, it was a full rainbow and as the road turned for me to head due west, one end of the rainbow was in the road directly in front of my car! I could hardly believe it! I exclaimed, "Oh, Father, I'm at the end of the rainbow! There's no pot of gold, but this is so much better!" For it was in that moment, that I understood what making a covenant meant to God. Here we are, thousands of years later, and His Word still stands! I am giving you a sign of my covenant with you and with all living creatures, for all generations to come. I have placed my rainbow in the clouds.

In that moment, I understood that even if I'm heading into a terrible storm, God has promised never to leave me, never to forsake me. He promised. His Word cannot be broken. In Matthew 28:20, His Words are: Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Oh, I have found riches untold at the end of the rainbow!!

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for the great report Denise got today. You are an awesome God! Seal all that You have done in our hearts this day. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen