Clouds

by R. Darke,Victoria, B.C. | Category: General | Feb 1969

Clouds of blessing, clouds of hope and clouds of blackness are all part of our Christian life, and God would teach us helpful lessons about them all from His word. When sadness and disappointment beset our paths, we may feel forsaken. Sometimes the darkness seems so intense, and the clouds appear so heavy, that the Lord is obscured from our vision; but instead of this being a discouragement, it should rather intensify our faith. "Faith sees Him always near". It is our faith amidst the darkness that enables us to cry in triumph with the Psalmist, "The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice" (Psalm 97.1). Whatever the circumstances of life, the LORD is on His throne; He is over all, blessed for evermore.

Oh the blessings which come when we allow faith to have full sway in our lives! This age of materialism is robbing God's people of so many blessings, and divine experiences which can be enjoyed only by faith. We must not forget that the "things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal". Which do we count of greater value, the temporal or the eternal?

We can learn much from the experiences of others, and it is good to remember that early Christians had their dark clouds. They endured great affliction; they were made a gazing-stock by reproaches and afflictions; and they took joyfully the spoiling of their possessions (Hebrews 10.32,34). What was the encouragement to them? "Ye have a better possession and an abiding one. Cast not away therefore your boldness, which hath great recompense of reward" (Hebrews 10.34,35).

In contrast to the clouds of blackness, we find the Lord giving the chosen three, Peter, James and John, the wondrous experience of the bright cloud. He took them to the "holy mount", and was transfigured before them, and they heard the Father's voice from the excellent glory, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him" (Matthew 17.5). "They saw no one, save Jesus only" (v.8). They heard the voice of God from the bright cloud, and they had a precious vision of the Son. But mountain top experiences do not last for ever, and they are intended to prepare us for what is taking place in the valley. On coming down from the mount, they found a needy multitude, helpless disciples, a needy father, and a demon-possessed boy. Despite the vision seen, and the voice heard, there was still the lesson to be learned that the Lord only is able to save. "Bring him hither to Me", was the divine command, "and the boy was cured from that hour" (vv. 17,18). It is good for us to remember that whatever experiences God might give to us in His wisdom, it does not change the fact that of ourselves we can do nothing. When we are dealing with souls, we must inevitably bring them to Him. We can be like the prophet and bring the "dead child" to our bed, the place where we found rest and reviving, but it is the divine voice alone which can give life.

Let us not hesitate, as His servants, to bring to Him our needy relatives and friends, for He is the source of all blessing. If we do, then we can share in the refreshing showers from the cloud of blessing just as Elijah did. Like ourselves, Elijah lived in a day when the word of the Lord was despised and ignored, a day of moral decay, but he believed in the prevailing power of prayer. This pertinent tribute is paid to him in the New Testament, "He prayed earnestly" (James 5.17). Would that all God's people were praying men and women in times of adversity! God honoured Elijah's faith on Mount Carmel, and gave him victory over the enemy. It was to the place of triumph that he returned to pray, and then to see "the little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand" (1 Kings 18.44). How God longs for His people to be refreshed by showers of blessing!

While it is true that we are living in a world of hopelessness, yet, as Christians, we should be thankful to God for our blessed hope, the appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. What a thrill is in store for us! "Caught up in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." What a blessed hope is ours! On that day there will be no looking back, for our eyes will be gazing upward to Him. There will be no holding back either, as we are drawn upwards, as though by cords of love, to Him, the Eternal Lover of our souls. Oh, beloved, our adversities and disappointments are only for a little while. "Look up, for your redemption draweth nigh". Maranatha!

R. Darke,Victoria, B.C. | Feb 1969
General