Watching thunderstorms is one of my greatest joys in life. Every time a good, Midwest storm rolls into my college town of Seward, Nebraska, I abandon my half-finished homework, hurry outside, and watch gleefully as the sky flashes with lightning. My friends know the drill. There’s no way I’ll be able to focus on anything else, so I’ll be back when the storm blows over.
I consider my love of lightning more than a random infatuation. Yes, it’s a beautiful part of nature, but it’s more than that to me. Every lightning bolt reminds me of God and His promises.
God Promises His Glory
I gasp every time I see lightning. I’m in awe of God’s creative design and the power He packs into storms that are so common in Nebraska. The spectacle always impresses me as I watch the bolts jut across the sky or curl into jagged knots. This wonder of creation truly reflects the ultimate glory of its Creator.
And [Jesus] was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became white as light. (Matthew 17:2)
When Jesus’ glory was revealed at His transfiguration, His face shone with the brilliance of lightning. In the book of Revelation, John gets the same picture: Jesus with hair like snow, eyes like fire, and a face like the sun. It’s a terrifying portrait, yet this all-powerful Jesus wants us to experience His presence and glory for eternity! Because He loves and redeems us, we can be reassured by His unimaginable majesty.
God Promises Unfailing Love
I’m always amazed by how quickly a bolt of lightning comes and goes. I love taking videos during a storm and seeing if I can find the split second that a lightning bolt is visible. It can only be perfectly captured in one frame. One millisecond later, it’s gone.
Things change quickly in this world—sometimes in ways we like, and oftentimes in ways we don’t. When my relationships, circumstances, and seemingly perfect plans are altered suddenly, I instinctively want to freak out. Like a fire started by a lightning strike, change can feel abrupt and alarming.
The good news is that God is in control. No matter what, God knows what He is doing, and we can take comfort in the fact that His love, goodness, and mercy are unwavering.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17)
We don’t deserve God’s goodness, yet He never changes His mind about loving and caring for us.
God Promises Guidance
Late one night, I got caught in a thunderstorm while I was walking back to my dorm room. As I navigated the pitch-dark campus quad, I could only see where I was going when lightning lit up the sky. For just a second at a time, I could see my path along the sidewalk, thankful for sure footing as I shielded my laptop from the rain.
Navigating in the darkness is dangerous. Without light, we stumble around, taking a chance that we won’t twist our ankles or run into roadblocks. The darkness can also be a cover-up for bad actions. Crimes are easier to commit in the dark. Parking lots have streetlamps and houses have porch lights for a reason.
We live in a murky, dangerous, sin-darkened world. Yet Jesus is the light that overcomes it all.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. (Isaiah 9:2)
Christians are called to reflect the light of Jesus into this dark world—like a flash of lightning that illuminates our surroundings and keeps us on the right path.
God Promises Eternal Light
Last year, a nighttime storm rolled over campus, with thunder that rattled our windowpanes and lightning that lit up the sky. Each time that lightning flashed, it looked like it was daytime. The sky became blindingly white, and I could make out every once-shadowy detail of my surroundings. That fleeting faux daytime illumination makes me think of Revelation 21:23, where we get a glimpse of what eternal life will be like in the new Jerusalem:
And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
When we are united with God for eternity, His presence will shine so bright that we won’t even need the sun! There will be no darkness—or anything frightening that hides in it. We will find perfect joy and peace when we clearly see our Savior face to face.
Scripture: ESV®.
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