For a rainbow to form, light has to hit a water droplet in a very specific way, slowing down and bending as it goes from air to denser water—reflecting off the inside of the droplet and bursting out into what we see as a rainbow. Bright, unending beams. We see it and we may think of God's promise, gold at the end, or The Wizard of Oz, in which the famous Judy Garland rendition promises there's a special land somewhere at the rainbow's end. Rainbows are purported to be rather "magical," thus their common alignment or combining with unicorns. A rainbow is a happy symbol that offers a sense of hope.
So, if we apply the aforementioned thoughts to the moments of our lives, they would be the treasured moments—special places we've gone; magical moments that are cheerful associations for us; times where we received hope and promise—occasions to be forever and pleasantly remembered.
A "rainbow moment," if you will, could be something that is life-changing, significant in a good way. It's that pivotal moment in which light comes pouring in and you see what you've been missing. Where life once seemed dull, monochromatic, gray—now it is in full color.
I would say that there are as many colors in a rainbow as there are facets of a human being. Our experiences—those moments—color our perspectives and give our lives meaning, joy, blessing. They may even launch us into new realms and ventures we hadn't previously considered.
God designed us to live a full-color life. A life of vibrancy. A life permeated with light. Jesus said in John 8:12, "“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 10:10b reveals why He came in the first place: "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." That means partaking of all He has to offer. He is, essentially, the ultimate rainbow, for He is light. He doesn't want us to miss a thing that He's doing. He gave us the Holy Spirit to illuminate the truth to us—to make His Word come alive.
On the cloudiest or dreariest of days, Jesus shines. What does He want us to capture today, that will color our existence through His lens? What is our "rainbow of existence" made up of? What picture are we allowing God to paint? What are those extraordinary moments that will carry us along in this mortal life?
We know that "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows" (James 1:17). We need to recognize those gifts—and express our gratitude to Him. Just imagine if the world was without color? Without rainbows? God did that! So, if He saw fit to create the prism of infinite colors with which to adorn our world—shouldn't we appreciate to the fullest the sheer variety and magnitude of moments in time that we get to experience His goodness and form our history? Our "rainbow of extraordinary moments," if you will?
But we have to take in the light God provides in order to appreciate it—"taste the rainbow," so to speak. "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him" (Psalm 34:8). He is so good, and He wants to show us just how good He is.
In Philippians 4:8, we are told, "...whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." There is so much beauty in our lives and in life in general, if we will allow ourselves to see it.
Yes, I've been using the rainbow metaphorically—as a picture of God's loving care and presence in our lives. "Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand" (Isaiah 64:8). And no one is a better potter than the Lord, nor a better father. In Genesis (chapter 9), God set His rainbow in the clouds as a life-giving covenant between himself and man—and all living creatures. Will we live under His rainbow? A life connected to the one who controls the wind and the waves yet is mindful of us? Everything we have is because of Him, and each moment is a gift.
"...for in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring" (Acts 17:28). Let us live and move in vibrancy and purpose, so that the light He has given us permeates everything we touch. Life, even though there are hard things to deal with, is extraordinary—and it should be extraordinarily lived.
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