Thursday, August 7, 2014
WHITE CLOUDS
White clouds -- something to remember on a warm summer day.
It is a good thing to occasionally stop and "smell the roses." We lead such busy lives, few are the moments to stop and appreciate the little things. Today we appreciate the puffy white clouds.
When we were children we used to lie in the grass and look at the clouds. We saw in them all manner of things. There's one that looks like a dog! I see a giant marshmallow! Cotton balls! Those floating white clouds serve to give a moment of relief from the heat of the sun on a warm day. Clouds of the puffy white variety aren't usually harbingers of bad weather.
Dark, swollen purple and green clouds can be frightening. One wonders what the clouds looked like when the first large drops fell from the bruised sky after Noah closed up the ark. Those clouds ushered in a world-wide judgment of God.
When the Son of God returns in glory to this big blue marble, He will again employ the clouds. When Christ returned to His native heaven He ascended until hidden by a cloud (cf. Acts 1:9ff). When He comes again He will come on the clouds of heaven (Revelation 1:7):
"Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen."
We do not fear that day because we have come to know Him not as an angry judge but as our loving Savior and perfect advocate. Christ's love serves to change our attitude on dark and cloudy days. By grace through faith we look forward to seeing His glorious return. May the LORD give us opportunity today to give witness to the hope we have in Christ!
