Chasing Rainbows

Genesis 9: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

Many years ago, round about the same time as St. Patrick’s Day, I can remember seeing one of the most beautiful rainbows in my life. The colors were absolutely vibrant and it stretched across the dove colored sky in an awesome way. My Dad saw me with my mouth wide open and, as I watched the rainbow disappear, he told me the old Irish story of leprechauns guarding their gold at each end of the rainbow.

For months afterward, whenever a rainbow appeared, I would try to see where the end of it touched the ground. I reckoned that if I located it, I could then trick the leprechaun and steal all of his gold. But no matter how hard I tried, or how ardently I wished for it, I could never find the end. Eventually, I gave up chasing rainbows and learned just to enjoy them each time they appeared. Even today, whenever I see a rainbow, I stop what I am doing, just to marvel at the beauty and wonder of it all.

When I became a Christian, I re-learned that rainbows are symbols of God’s covenant, and of the blessed assurance that He keeps His promises. He never goes against His word, nor does God try to wangle His way out of a pledge to His people. He is the Almighty Promise Keeper, and that means everything to me. I know that I may fail and disappoint Him at times; I may make mistakes and do sinful things, but God’s covenant of forgiveness, mercy, and grace, through the precious blood of Christ, is always there for the asking, and it never fades away.

Today, we may say, write or do something that we later regret. It may hurt or disappoint other people. It may offend and annoy God. And yet, at the end of the day, we will be given another opportunity to confess, another chance to get it right, another rainbow of redemption to correct our character, cleanse our soul, and be restored to God’s favor through Jesus Christ. And if we don’t take it for granted, we will also marvel at the beauty and wonder of His grace.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your everlasting covenant and the sacred promises that You keep. We praise You for being faithful to Your word and for loving, forgiving and restoring us continually, even when we fail to keep Your commands and break our side of Your promises. Thank You for Jesus, for His obedience to Your ways, for His sacrifice that pays for our sins, for His resurrection that is our doorway to everlasting hope. In Christ’s Name, we praise You and pray. Amen.