HH, Sir Godfrey Gregg D.Div
I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. Genesis 9:13
A covenant is a promise or undertaking, resting on certain conditions, with a sign or token attached to it. The rainbow on the raincloud, the Lord’s Supper, the wedding-ring, are signs and seals of the respective covenants to which they belong. Whenever we see them we should bethink ourselves of the covenant. Whenever you see a rainbow, recall the covenant into which God has entered with thee; for as He has sworn that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so His kindness shall not depart from thee, nor the covenant of His peace is removed. Three things are needed to make a rainbow.
A cloud. – When man’s sin overshadowed Paradise, the bow of promise shone; and when the thunderclouds gathered about the Saviour’s path, the Divine voice assured Him that as He had glorified the Divine Name by His life, He should glorify it much more by His death. When the black clouds of conviction, bereavement, soul-anguish beset thee, look out for the bow: it is always there, though sufferers do not always perceive it.
Rain. – There are no rainbows unless there be falling drops to catch and unravel the sunbeams. It may be that all evil is worse in its anticipation than in its endurance; but this is certain, that the big drops of sorrow have to patter on our souls before we can realize all that God is prepared to be to us.
Sunshine. – It is only when God comes into our grief that we can’ see the treasures of Love and Grace which are stored for us in Him. We never know how great a blessing sorrow maybe till we carry it into the light of the King’s face. It is the dark canvas on which the artist produces his most marvellous effects.
Are you the canvas on which the life of your risen Saviour is reflected? Are you the droplet falling in the sky which unravels the sunbeams of life? Let your light so shine before men today that the world will see Christ in you the hope of glory. A simple thing that traps us is the clothes we wear or how we dress.
