Anybody else love rainbows? Sometimes I see double rainbows. How many colors are in a rainbow? So many. The acronym ROYGBIV captures seven of them: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Not only do I like the colors, but I love the spiritual significance of the bow. Rainbows mark God’s covenant with Noah and all living things not to destroy the world by flood. Not only do we see rainbows, but God does. And he remembers. This is what rainbows mean.
On this Ash Wednesday, you may see another sign of God’s covenant. Someone may have ashes in the shape of a cross on their forehead at your workplace or in the grocery store. The cross symbolizes the death of Christ for the sins of the world. Even if we do not wear the cross, we bear the cross as Jesus’ disciples. For the next forty days, Christians around the world will think about the cross.
We need to be reminded of God’s promises more than God does. It is hard to imagine God needing a mnemonic device of any kind. On the other hand, we forget so many things. John Newton, who wrote Amazing Grace, said later in his life, “I have forgotten many things. But two things I remember. I am a great sinner. And Jesus Christ is a great Savior.” Think of that when you see a cross, or a rainbow.
