I was driving home today in the drizzle and I saw a rainbow in the sky. From where I was I could see the end if the rainbow landing among some trees not far from me. (Yes, I know it was an optical illusion). I’ve never seen that before, I’ve always seen the colours in the sky landing somewhere in the distance behind houses or hills. But this one was close. And I thought, “What a beautiful rainbow!”
Is a rainbow ever anything but beautiful? Have you ever heard of an ugly rainbow? I haven’t. A rainbow is intrinsically beautiful.
In the bible, the rainbow is a reminder to God of his promise never to destroy humankind with a flood that covers the earth again. (That seems very specific to me, but maybe it means never cause such worldwide devastation and destruction?). It is a symbol of hope for us, to see it and remember the covenant God made with us, a covenant for a fresh start. It’s a sign of grace and mercy on all people, that never again will God wipe out the sinful from the earth. Instead, we get Jesus come to save the sinners.
A rainbow needs two things: rain and sunlight. It’s a symbol of hope because after the rain comes something that can’t be anything but beautiful. A symbol of hope and love, a rainbow if encouragement to keep going, a promise that something better is yet to come. A rainbow is a reminder that God hasn’t given up and reassurance that we shouldn’t either.
And maybe it represents life for us. Our life has good and bad in it, it has both rain and sun. Which means, our lives become rainbows – something so beautiful that nothing can take away from it.
Keep going, remember God’s promise and love, and keep your eyes peeled for rainbows
The Reason for my Hope Blog 