As of late, areas – in which drought and burn bans are the norm – have received a precipitous amount of rain. Lakes are at their highest, rivers are breaching their levees, flooding has destroyed land, homes, and lives. Social media has been laced with jokes about river-rafting down streets, and carrying about daily activities under water. While rain is usually the desire and prayer for those in these areas, and most have participated in the “wet humor,” the general consensus has reached, “enough is enough.”

Rain is a wonderful blessing from God that is impossible to live without. He “sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45), for with Him “there is no variation or shadow of tuning” (James 1:17). However, sometimes nature takes its toll on mankind. God has used the elements of nature to teach lessons, and display His power, and righteousness. Our rainy days have seemed to eclipse our sunny days, and have reminded us of a time when rain fell on all the earth for forty days and nights (cf. Genesis 7:4).

“Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). This ungodly living made God sorry, and led to His decision to destroy mankind with a universal flood (cf. Genesis 6:17). We cringe at the news of a river or lake overflowing and flooding a town. Yet, imagine everything you see being covered with water! Everything not inhabiting the ark was destroyed (cf. Genesis 7:23).

By inspiration, Peter used this account as an example of God’s righteousness (cf. 2 Peter 2:5). “The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under the punishment for the day of judgment” (2 Peter 2:9). While the unrighteous ones were destroyed with the flood waters, the faithful ones were delivered by God (cf. Hebrews 11:7). This is a common theme in scripture. Unrighteousness cannot go unpunished, and righteousness cannot be punished. Anything to the contrary would be uncharacteristic of the Divine One. This is also true today.

Although God promised He would not destroy the world in this way again, and we see the symbol of that promise even today (cf. Genesis 9:12-13), He has promised the destruction of the world by other means (cf. 2 Peter 3:10). Peter gives us instruction on how this truth should motivate us – “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:11-13).

Righteousness is rewarded, while unrighteousness is punished. This world is temporary, and will be destroyed. We should not keep our focus on the temporary, but the eternal “in which righteousness dwells.” May we all see the rainbows after the rain ceases, and the flooding subsides, and remember our God is faithful to His promises, whether positive, or negative.