The Rainbow: God’s Reminder

Verse of the day: Genesis 9:13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth.

When we see a rainbow, what do we think of? When we observe its beauty, and scramble to try and get a good picture of it, does it, at any point, remind us of God and His promise to us? Sadly, too much of what God has given us has been taken by the world to symbolize things that were not intended by God. The rainbow has a specific purpose, and that purpose is God’s. After departing from the ark, Noah’s first action in this new world was to build an altar, and sacrifice some of the clean animals, as an act of worship toward God (Gen 8:20). God responds to Noah with this promise, that He will never destroy man or any other living thing by way of a worldwide flood, ever again (Gen 8:21). The rainbow was then given to Noah, mankind, and all living creatures, as a visible sign of God’s covenant with Noah, and all the creatures with him. When we see the rainbow, it should remind us that God is a God of His Word. Noah spent many years (about 120 years) preaching righteousness, and warning the people of God’s coming judgment. Today, God continues to warn us of His coming judgment for sin, and it is our responsibility to warn others of the same. While Noah preached, he was building the ark God had instructed him to build, offering man a way of escape from that coming judgment, if they would just believe. Today, we have the Gospel message which we are to communicate to the world, as it tells of how God, once again, has provided a means of salvation from His coming judgment on sin. The fact of the matter is that even though God promised not to destroy man, and all creatures, by way of a worldwide flood, He warns that the coming judgment will be carried out by fire. 2 Peter 3:10-12 reads as follows: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Unlike the “big bang” theory of evolutionist, this here will be the true “big bang”. This chapter of 2 Peter reminds us that in these last days there will be scoffers who will mock us because the Lord has not returned as promised, but God is not slack concerning His promise, but is longsuffering, and His desire is that none should perish (2 Pt 3:8-9). Knowing this, we must do all that we can to tell others about Jesus, and the salvation He has brought to man. We must diligently preach this message until the Lord returns, or He takes us home. The rainbow is a reminder of God’s faithfulness in keeping His promise, but it is also a reminder of His judgment, and His grace.

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing their sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).