I remember the day like it was yesterday, especially when I look down at the Gold band on my left hand. The month was April and the year was 1981. The location was Nazarene church in Rarden, Ohio and the girl’s name was and is Terri. The ring that she lovingly slipped onto my finger 30 years ago still reminds me today of that moment, and the sweet girl I call my wife to this day. The story of our lives together, the moment we were married, and the promise we made to each other that day.
There is a story in scripture that comes to my mind in Genesis chapter 9, verses 8 to 15 “And God space unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you; And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. And God said, This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud: And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.”
This reminds me of a story. God saw the world in its sinful condition and pronounced judgment on sinful mankind. Through the ark God made a way to escape judgment, but that way was represented by one door only. Noah and his family obeyed God completely and were saved through God’s plan of salvation. I am also reminded of a moment when I think of this story. A moment that Jesus even mentions in himself in Matthews Gospel in chapter 24: 37-39 “But as the days of Noël were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.” That’s the story and the moment but don’t miss he promise that God gives in form of a rainbow. In the middle of unrighteousness and judgment God gives man a promise in the form of a rainbow. Now every time we see he rainbow in the sky we are reminded of a story, a moment and a promise.
This takes me in my mind now to another story that tells us of God loving the world so much that he was willing to give his only Son so that we could be saved. There is a moment when that son Jesus is dying on a cross and utters the words “It is finished” and Gods complete plan of Salvation was finished. And I cannot forget the promise Jesus made in john 14 when he said, “Let not our hearts be troubled. Ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my fathers house are many mansions, if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am you may be also.”
I can tell you my story, how I came to know Jesus Christ as my Personal Savior. I can take you to my moment at a little church camp in Greenfield Ohio where I walked down to a little alter where I bent my 14 year old knees and became a Christian. I could also tell you of the Promise I hold dear to my soul each and every day of my life. Through the highs and lows, through the good and bad, through the joys and sorrows, I still treasure my personal promise from the Lord that he will never leave me or forsake me. With all that said let me ask you today, do you have a story? Everyone does you know. The important thing though is whether or not Jesus is a part of your life’s story. Oh and by the way have you had a moment? A moment when you personally make a decision to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? And while I’m asking questions here’s one more. Do you possess a promise? A promise of an eternal home in heaven forever? The next time you see a rainbow it’s my prayer that you remember your story, your moment and your promise. Or if your not a Christian today I pray that you’ll be motivated to begin your story, experience your moment and lay hold on your promise. I remember hearing a story about a man who was visiting a certain school and made a promise to the tiny students that he would give a prize to the one whose desk was found in the best order when he returned. He gave no indication of when that might be. Shortly after he left, a little girl, noted for her messy habits, announced that she meant to win that prize. He classmates jeered, "Why, Mary, your desk is always out of order! It’s never been cleaned." "Oh," she replied, "Starting right now, I’m going to clean it up the first of every week." "Just suppose he comes at the end of the week?" "Well then, I’ll clean it every morning." "What if he comes in the afternoon?" Mary was silent, then her face lightened up and she said, I know what I’ll do, I’ll just keep it clean all the time!" -That’s how we should be. Ready all the time.
Terri and I on our wedding day, April 4, 1981
25 years later...
And now thirty years...
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