Issue 1180 – Storm Clouds – June 19, 2023
The sun was nearly gone behind the horizon to the west. The sky to the east was as black as the coming night.
A heavy layer of grey, black and purple clouds covered most of the sky. The storm coming threatened to be a huge one. It was unusual as most storms came from the west or north.
Off in the distance, I could hear the deep, slow rumble of thunder, coming on like a heavily laden freight train. The booming was punctuated by the flash of great, long flashes of lightning. One flash hadn’t entirely faded before it was replaced by another across the sky.
The storm was coming on fast, and I doubted I would be home before it hit. I resigned myself to getting soaked.
Suddenly the thunder and lightning stopped. I looked up and was astounded by what I saw.
In the dying moment of the evening, the sun caught the edges of the storm clouds and transformed them from something frightening to an object of beauty.
It reminded me that the darkness can roar all it likes, but ultimately, the Light is in control. I still got soaked and hit with some small hailstones, but I didn’t mind nearly as much.
Two of the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith are the sovereignty of God and that Jesus is returning. Nothing the enemy can do will prevent Jesus from returning exactly when God ordained it.
There is debate amongst Christians about when that will happen, but there is no doubt it will occur.
But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Mark 16:41-42
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:7-8
The fanfare that will accompany His return will put that thunder and lightning show to shame. The clouds I saw in the sunlight will be nothing compared to those He returns on.
Will we all see the same thing? I have wondered if the believer and unbeliever will see things the same way. Yes, we will see Jesus return, but the believer will see Him with rejoicing and the non-believer with terror over their impending judgment.
Shrieks of delight will mingle with cries of doom and horror. Eternal bliss has come for some and damnation for many more. All will have had their chance to make a choice. None will have any excuse.
No matter how bleak the storm clouds in your life may look or how much the darkness around you rumbles and threatens to overwhelm you, remember Christ is in control. Our security and victory are in Him.
We might get wet in the interim as the storm vents, but it can never totally overcome us. Through Christ, we have our victory. Our God is sovereign above everything else.
Let the storms rage. Take heart and rejoice in Christ.
Be Blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the glory of God alone)
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