To say it has rained a lot here the past month or so would be the understatement of the year. It has rained boatloads. Out of the past 24 days, it’s rained 22. And not just rain, buckets and rivers of it. Inches per hour. I’ve seen water in places I didn’t know could hold water. We’ve had water over roadways, rivers rising, and sink holes. Yes, sink holes. Who knew that could happen here?
But I haven’t complained. I’ve thought about it, but so far–other than to be my usual sarcastic self–my mouth has stayed shut. (When the mosquitoes show up, then you’ll likely hear me whining…) Because I remember drought. And I remember how we went months and months without even a drizzle. When it finally did downpour, I was the cliche out standing in it.
But the rain got me thinking about Noah. Yeah, it’s rained a lot here and the ark jokes have been floated ad nauseum. But every time a drop falls, it serves to remind me of how good God is. See, God looked down and saw a wicked people turned from him, going after their own way. He looked down and saw a II Timothy 3 kind of world. And the Genesis account says he was sorry he made it. So, he decided to start over. Only Noah and his own lived to tell the tale.
Well, if ever we were a II Timothy 3 world, it would be now. Check it out:
II Timothy 3: 2-5a (NIV)–People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Need we say more?
But it also makes me think of grace. Because God hasn’t decided he’s done yet. That’s one of the reasons I know that God is good. Because along comes this:
II Peter 3: 9 (NIV)–The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Why is God holding back? Because He wants every last person to have the chance to come to Him. He doesn’t want to condemn anyone. He wants us all to come home. In a world gone crazy, it helps to know that God is waiting on those souls to love Him. When I think of some of the people I love who haven’t reached that point yet, I’m glad to still be here. Oh, yes, I’d love for Jesus to crack open the sky and take us all outta here in the next ten seconds, but the idea that those I love might yet get to go too? It’s worth the wait. And if it’s worth it for me, you know it’s worth it for God, whose love is perfect and whose heart is missing His babies.
So when it rains again–and it is already forecast to do so–I’m going to look out my window, remember that rain and grace are intertwined in the same story, and pray again for my loved ones. How about you?
Any views on the rain or, if you’re in Texas, the lack of it? (I’ll be happy to send you some of mine…)
-JB
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