Rainbow Surprise
Names are changed in this story so as to protect those involved.
While traveling with maria and husband Donaldo, we were sharing how wonderful it is to have time alone with God. In those quiet hours, there is a sweetness of His presence as He draws near to share truth important for each day. It used to be that 10 minutes was enough. Then it went to 30 minutes and an hour. Now often 3 hours is not enough time in the morning alone. Then all day hardly an hour goes by but that I am silently praying and thinking about my BEST FRIEND. I am awakened morning by morning to learn new things. While sharing this joy of a FOREVER FRIENDSHIP with God, I kept glancing at the impact I prayed it would have on David's heart. He was driving.
I told him it was time for him to give his heart to Jesus. I asked if he had considered it. He shared that there were things in the way. I urged him not to wait. I wanted to be present at the baptism and rejoice with all of them. He commented he was about ready. Instantly there was the brightest rainbow we have seen in a long time. It doubled and tripled. We had to stop for pictures. For over an hour this rainbow was present as we drove along. It was really impressive. It consumed our thoughts. I repeated how Jesus says He made that bow. He says that it is a signal to us that He will provide strength and protection as long as His throne endures. In the same reference it promises God will never leave us in our struggle with evil. His throne will last forever. (Desire of Ages 493)
There is also a promise that the rainbow signals that God has heard our prayer. it is "assurance that our prayers shall be answered. " {ST, October 10, 1892 par. 1} It is a signal that God mixes mercy with justice. Everywhere that the ten commandments are shared, we are to explain the blessing of the rainbow signal. God does not treat us as we deserve. He looks at us as what we can become with His changes. He can remember everything but He has "Divine Amnesia" when it comes to remembering our mistakes that we have confessed and put behind us.
I knew God was really working on the heart of this kind generous man. We hope to see him baptized or receive a picture when he is.
As the bow in the cloud is formed by the union of the sunlight and the shower, so the rainbow encircling the throne represents the combined power of mercy and justice. It is not justice alone that is to be maintained; for this would eclipse the glory of the rainbow of promise above the throne; man could see only the penalty of the law. Were there no justice, no penalty, there would be no stability to the government of God. {AG 70.3}