A Sound Like a Mighty Rushing Wind
Yesterday morning I was ironing clothes to prepare for worship. The ironing board stands beside a window. I could easily hear the wind blowing outside. It wasn't raging or storming by any means, but it was loud enough for me to hear it, nonetheless.
The breeze caused dried leaves to fall from the trees and join other bright colors already on the ground. I could hear that too. Leaves don't usually make a sound when they fall; but once they are dry and brittle they do.
As I ironed, I couldn't help but think about some of the times wind is mentioned in the Bible. The first thing I thought of was the day of Pentecost when Peter preached the first gospel sermon.
Consider Acts 2:1-2 "When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting."
I find it intriguing scripture does not say there was a wind; but a sound like a wind - and not just any wind - a mighty rushing wind. The sound was meant to be heard. This was the day - it was the day Jesus kept His promise to the apostles.
Remember John 14:16-17? Christ said "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you."
What a momentous occasion this was! The sound of a rushing mighty wind ushered in the fulfillment of a promise which led to the establishment of the church. How marvelous it must have been to see Jews from so many different parts of the world gathered in one place to hear the gospel preached in their own language!
Most of us think of this event as the beginning of the church. Indeed, it was. If I ever thought of it as a promise made true, I hadn't done so very often.
It is, though. Christ promised the Helper (or Comforter) would come to them and the Helper came. It was the Holy Spirit. Jesus also promised the Helper would abide with them forever. And He did. The Holy Spirit was not only there with them on the day of Pentecost. He was with them for the rest of their lives. Why do I know this? Because it is what Jesus told them.
See, we know God keeps His promises. Joshua 21:45 says, "Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass."
The rainbow is the sign of a covenant (promise) God gave Noah thousands of years ago. It was the promise God would never again destroy the earth by water. God's promises are many and they are beautiful. And we know from examples in the Bible those promises are kept.
There is one promise we should always remember. It comes from James 1:12 - "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
I'm so glad I heard the wind today. I am thankful it reminded me of the sound "like a mighty rushing wind." Always remember God keeps His promises. Hang tough. The Lord will never let us down!
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (James 1:12).
Have a marvelous Monday!
Christ above all things, Robin
