Under a cloud

May 1, 2007

By Randy Mantik

Most of us probably know one of those quintessential pessimists — the person who tends to see the glass half-empty, the sky mostly cloudy, and the grass never as green as it should be. In fact, it seems more and more people see themselves and their situations in a negative way. Too many of us see only what we don’t have instead of all that we do have.

But there is another kind of cloud we can choose to live under, one made up of the love, joy, and peace that come from the Holy Spirit. We can ditch our gloom-and-doom clouds and live under the life-infusing cloud generated by the Spirit! As Christians, we have so much to be hopeful and joyful about!

I know life is hard and the struggle seems relentless at times, but what’s so encouraging is we don’t have to face the hard stuff alone! God not only promises to walk with us, but He also gives us His precious Word in Scripture, His Holy Spirit to empower us and guide us, His peace that is stronger and more enduring than any trial, other believers to edify and challenge us, and — as if all that were not enough — a promise of eternity with Him!

Somehow that old gray cloud doesn’t seem to hold a lot of appeal anymore!

The Children of Israel knew all about living under God’s cloud. God mightily delivered them from slavery in Egypt and brought them out to the desert to provide for them on their way to the Promised Land. In the center of their camp was the tabernacle, the place where God dwelt. Above it was a cloud, the constant evidence and reminder of His presence. “So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels” (Exodus 40:38, NIV). No matter where the Israelites went, the cloud of God’s presence was over them.

Wouldn’t it be cool if God did that today? Amazingly enough, God chooses to show His presence today through us as believers! “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

Imagine it this way: All clouds are not rain clouds. What makes a rain cloud? Precipitants, tiny dust particles that cause water vapor to collect as raindrops. Rain falls back to earth because there is a bit of dust in it. In the same way, it is the dust of humanity that must bring the blessing of the water of God back to the thirsty earth. Dust and divinity someone has called it. God with us, as hard as that may be to believe.

People all around us need the rain of God’s presence on their dry and thirsty souls. How does it get there? By each of us allowing God to rain down through us. And to do that, we need to continually live under the cloud of His presence so we can be filled up and always ready to be sent out as His rain clouds to the world around us.

Randy Mantik is senior pastor of Crossroads Church of the Assemblies of God in Pembine, Wis.