Genesis 8:20-22; 9:8-17
Do you realize that every human being on the face of the planet lives under the grace of Almighty God? Every day, as morning breaks and each person yawns at the edge of their bed, we all enjoy a dose of God's grace--from the highest eschalons of rulership to the tiniest baby in the most remote and archaic tribe. Every rainbow is a reminder of it. In fact, every human being--whose heart's intention is evil from his youth--deserves the judgment of God right now. Paul's letter to the Romans even tells us that God has made Himself known in Creation in such a way that all men (who do not turn to Him) are without excuse. But the rainbow is a reminder of God's universal grace (note: not universal salvation).
Although judgment is deserved, God promised that He would never again curse the ground because of man. That's interesting, because my Bible says that a day of judgment is coming; that a day is soon coming in which the whole earth will be burned up with fire; that every man will give an account to God; that all those whose faith is not in Jesus Christ will face an eternal judgment flood. The rainbow reminds us of God's heart toward man...the flood reminds us of God's heart toward sin.
How can we not recite John 3:16 here--"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
The rainbow tells the whole world of God's love. Christians tell the whole world about Christ. The world has an obligation to trust in the Creator rather than creation (Romans 1:18-25). Jesus has an obligation to vindicate his death. The flood was God's curse against the ground because of man. The soon to come separation of sheep and goats, earth consuming fire, and Great White Throne of Judgment is because of the glory of Jesus Christ. He who was made low for our sake will be gloriously exalted for every eye to see.
"What are you talking about?" We Christians tend to think that all that lies ahead is judgment. We fault ourselves in this to the point that we spend more time behind four walls sitting in pews casting judgment upon the lost. "Oh, they'll get theirs...unless, of course, they become like us." We paint the picture that all God is is a God of judgment; that God is out to get everyone that isn't like us. But, Genesis 8:21 clearly tells us that never again will God curse the ground because of man. As a matter of fact, today's history is all about God desiring everyone to turn to Him through Jesus. That is God's heart toward man. The judgment to come is not because of God's mean spirited judgment (which is the way we have led most people to think about God). The judgment to come is not to curse the ground because of man. The judgment to come is for the vindication of Jesus' glory for all the world to see. Every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord. It's not because of man, but Jesus.
"What about it?" Isn't it interesting that the sun rises on both the Godly and the ungodly? The rainbow covers both the Godly and the ungodly? God loves the world. Our job, as Christ followers, is not to cast judgment but to share God's love with the world and to warn them of Christ's vindication (his return and his eternal home). Somewhere, over the rainbow, we must learn that it's not because of man (not about us) but it's all about Jesus!
