Through Cloud and Rain

 

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. Psalm 9:10 (NIV)

I recently flew into Billings, Montana. It was raining on our final approach, and with just about 30 seconds left to touchdown the plane descended into a cloud that completely blocked all outside view. Light faded as rain streaked the window. My tension remained until light increased and we came out of the bottom of the cloud with a view of the city below and our airplane descending to the runway. During the flight both pilots and individuals working ground control were not in sight, nor were their communications heard, but their unseen skills brought us to a safe landing.

It is hard for many to trust in a God who is invisible and inaudible as we might be descending into a personal storm.  Somehow it seems more frightening as darkness and cloud totally obscure our sight and rain steaks the window. Is the invisible God with us in this storm? What is He like? Paul tells the Colossian believers that God’s Son, Christ Jesus, is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible. He goes on to say of Him: He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (1^st Timothy 6:15,17).

Jesus taught that He has all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). A great part of our trust in Him is remembering that the clouds and the rain are in His hand and even wind and the sea obey Him (Matt. 8:27).

Our faith and hope in God are never misplaced. The Father is invisible yet ever present (Psalm 139:7-12). While He remains invisible, His Son is incarnate, in bodily form and the essence and His exact likeness in human flesh has been made known. Through clouds and rain, we can always know what God is like for to have seen the Son is to have seen the Father (John 14:9).

The rain streaking your window and that thick cloud obscuring your sight has a bottom and will pass. We can be assured we will drop out of that cloud and rain into daylight with our runway in sight and Christ as our Pilot in Command.

Maranatha,

Ken