When you go outside and look up, what is the first thing you notice? Is it the blue sky? The clouds? The sunshine? We all can agree that the sunshine is far too bright to directly look at for more than a few seconds. But with the clouds and the blue sky we can gaze at them for as long as we choose. It is very relaxing to watch the clouds float across the sky. We look up at the sky every day, and most people will make note of the clouds first. If a day is 50% sunny and 50% cloudy, it is often the clouds that we notice. They stand out. That is not necessarily a bad thing. Clouds stand out just like the words on this page. You are focusing on the black letters as opposed to the white background.
Clouds can be small wisps in the sky. They can be big, white, puffy masses, creating interesting shapes as they move across the sky. They can be dark and ominous, bringing a storm. They can cover the entire sky, blocking out all sunlight. Sometimes they peacefully float across the sky. Other times they bring rain, which can be gentle, or powerful as a thunder shower. While clouds can be beautiful and harmless, they may also be dismal, forbidding, and powerful.
Clouds play a very important role in our weather and there is nothing we can do to control them. Our outdoor plans are sometimes at the mercy of the rain clouds.
How do you define a cloud? What is a cloud to you? The dictionary definition states that it is “a visible mass of droplets of water or frozen crystals, suspended in the atmosphere.” So, they are just a bunch of water drops in the sky. They can be peaceful or powerful. An airplane can easily fly through most of the peaceful ones.
Clouds are always on the move. It is rare to see a cloud stay in one place. Sometimes they move fast and sometimes slow. If we were to learn from the clouds, we would always be on the move with some purpose in mind. Some in the church move faster, and some slower, but all are moving and growing and that is the important part. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18. Next time you look up at the sky, watch them move and envision yourself moving in like manner in your spiritual life. We must all keep moving forward as do the clouds, even if we do not see the end. We do not know what is around the next corner, or what the next chapter of our lives may hold. Go forward. The clouds do not know where they will end up either. Only God knows.
Whether we realize it or not, clouds affect our emotions and mood, depending on their colour. When we wake up to a bright sunny day with few clouds, or we see white puffy clouds, we often feel very happy. We may have more energy and accomplish much positive good.
If we wake up and see thick dark heavy clouds, our emotional state may not be quite as positive. We may even be in a somber mood. We may move slower, and may not feel like going out or doing much. The dark clouds may bring out negative emotions such as sadness, anger, or frustration.
The rays of the sun make one feel warm and happy. The thicker the clouds, the less light we receive from the sun because clouds block the light.
If you had a wonderful day planned with your family in a park, and the sun was shining, you would feel very
happy. How would your mood change if you had just set up your picnic lunch and dark clouds started to move towards you? Your mood would now not be so positive.
This is how it is with many Christians. Their happiness is dependent on “clouds”—circumstances. Sometimes you cannot control the circumstances around you, like the weather, or how others treat you, or where you live. But you can choose to be happy regardless of the circumstances, even when the clouds are thick around you.
There is a song that begins with, “How tedious and tasteless the hours, when Jesus no longer I see!” The first verse ends with—“But when I am happy in Him, December’s as pleasant as May.”(Church Hymnal, 1941, Song # 660). In the northern hemisphere, May is a beautiful sunny month and December is a dismal, cold month, but with Jesus, we are just as happy and productive whether it is a warm day and the sun is shining or a cold and rainy day and there are thick clouds covering the sun. In Christ, our emotions should not be dictated by the clouds.
Jesus is “the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” Hebrews 13:8. And He wants to give us that stability in our lives. Connected to Him, we shall have stability.
As dark clouds predict rain, clouds can also symbolize challenging times that we face in life. The storms of life can be exhausting, overwhelming, and depressing. Without Christ it is easy to sometimes be “under a cloud” which means being in a depressed state of mind.
I am sure we have all felt at times like we are “under a cloud”. Things seem dark and forbidding. Some people are so stuck under the cloud that they cannot find their way out. “The use of this phrase can be traced back to the dark medieval times (around early 14th and 15th century) where dark clouds represented ominous misfortune and hard/bad luck. This phrase figuratively means that a black cloud is hanging over someone.” www.theidioms.com
There is a way out, though. We can get our head above the clouds. We do not need to remain under the cloud forever. Behind that cloud is Jesus. In the song Once to Every Man and Nation, (International Hymnal #624) the song ends with, “And, behind the dim unknown, Standeth God within the shadow, Keeping watch above His own.” Behind the cloud of every trial is Jesus watching over you.
If anyone has flown in an airplane and the weather was cloudy, how beautiful it is when you fly above the clouds and see the sun shining. Yes, the sun is behind the clouds, and is always shining. Jesus, the Son of Righteousness, is behind the clouds. Another favourite song of mine has a chorus that reads, “Back of the clouds, the sun is always shining, after the storm the skies will all be blue, God has prepared a rosy tinted lining, Back of the clouds, He’s waiting to shine through.” Behind all clouds, the sun is always shining.
Sometimes clouds linger for a while, filling up the sky so you cannot see the sun at all. Yet regardless of how many clouds there are, or how long they last, if you want to see the sun again, all you have to do is simply wait. If you feel under a spiritual cloud and do not understand why things are happening as they are, the Lord says, “Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.” Psalm 27:14. One day the clouds will disappear and you will be in the sunshine once again. Just wait and trust, but do not give up. Do not stop. And remember, behind the clouds the sun is still shining. Jesus is behind your clouds.
Although thick dark clouds can be regarded as unfavourable, bringing rain and putting some in a gloomy mood, it is said that every cloud has “a silver lining.” We must look at the positive side. When rain falls on the ground it not only waters the plants, but it also washes away dust and dirt. Therefore, these dark clouds have a silver lining. They may seem to produce a negative emotion, but they bring positive results to nature and the environment. From every bad experience you can derive some benefit. In every bad situation there is an element of good; something positive to learn, something Jesus is trying to teach you. In 1634 a man named John Milton is quoted as saying, “Was I deceived or did a sable cloud Turn forth her silver lining on the night?”
Is that not how the Christian life is? We live in a world of sin—a world that is increasingly becoming more corrupt. God’s people have never been accepted by the masses of the world. If bad things happen, do not be deceived. As John Milton asked, “Was I deceived?” The answer is, “No.” You were not deceived, or rejected by the Lord. He allowed certain clouds to appear in your life for your good. Look for that silver lining—it is there.
Jesus said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:18–19. And yes, if you are a true follower of Jesus, Satan will hate you and cause others to hate you. You will face many clouds and trials, but through every trial there is benefit (a silver lining). Even in death, it is said, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints.” Psalm 116:15
Even with the thickest clouds, though, some daylight gets through. There is never a day that is as dark as night. Through every trial and challenge in life, the glory of God will get you through even though it is somewhat dimmed for our own good. No challenge is too hard for the Lord. “Clouds and darkness are round about Him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of His throne.” Psalm 97:2
Clouds are secretive and unpredictable. You never know what shape they will take or how fast they will move. Be ready for all circumstances. Nothing happens to you by accident. It has all been in the plan of God. Clouds keep parts of the sky hidden from our view. However, in the parts between the clouds we can see the clear blue sky. And so also the Lord, clothed in secrecy and mystery keeps some things hidden from us. We do not know what lies ahead, but the Lord does. Just trust. “The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.” Deuteronomy 29:29. Some things happen and you may never understand why, but do not worry. You may never know. All you need to know that, although veiled behind a cloud, God is always there and always in control.
If one is said to have their “head in the clouds”, it means that they are absentminded, not aware of their present situation, illogical or delusional. This is not the cloud we want our head to be in. In the 1600’s people began using this phrase to describe people who spoke of impossible or foolish things. They were said to have their “head in the clouds” as clouds are unreachable or impossible for humans to control. All throughout history we can read of how Christians were maligned and accused of having their “head in the clouds” as though they were out of touch with reality and living in an unreal world. The truth is though, that those who reject Christ are living with their head in the clouds. They are the ones who are truly foolish for rejecting Christ. They are in a fog, veiled from reality.
The first mention of a cloud in the Bible is just after the flood. “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. And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.” Genesis 9:13–16. “After the fearful exhibition of God’s avenging power, in the destruction of the Old World by a flood, had passed, He knew that those who had been saved from the general ruin would have their fears awakened whenever the clouds should gather, the thunders roll, and the lightnings flash; and that the sound of the tempest and the pouring out of the waters from the heavens would strike terror to their hearts, for fear that another flood was coming upon them. But behold the love of God in the promise.” –The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 1, p. 1091
Prior to the flood it never rained. After the flood it would rain on and off as we see today. There would be great fear on the part of the people after the flood if they should see rain clouds appearing once again, so God made a promise. When they see dark rain clouds, He would put a rainbow there to let the people know that He will not destroy them with another flood. Although we do not always see a rainbow when we see rain clouds, there is a rainbow that can be seen by God “the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it.” When the storms of life come upon us our vision may be clouded and we may not see the rainbow. We may only see the clouds. But the Lord sees the rainbow. “God Himself looks upon the bow in the clouds, and remembers His everlasting covenant between Himself and man.” –Ibid. We have nothing to fear. There is a rainbow in every storm we face in life.
Since clouds filter or block light, we can read of how the
Lord used clouds many times when He appeared to His people in order to veil His glory, as it would be too brilliant for humans to look at Him. The clouds mercifully impeded His full brilliance. This covering is critical because the undimmed brightness of God was too much for mankind. Were man to be in the presence of the full glory of God, they would perish. Thus clouds veiled His glory. Moses had to be hidden from the full glory of God in the cleft of a rock, or he would have died (Exodus 33:19–23). After being in God’s presence for 40 days, the Israelites could not look at Moses’ face, and he had to use a veil because even though the glory of God was vastly dimmed, it was still too bright for the people (Exodus 34:29–35).
In the wilderness we see the Lord leading His people in a cloud. “And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way.” Exodus 13:21. “And it came to pass, as Aaron spake unto the whole congregation of the children of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud.” Exodus 16:10
Although at some times the Lord spoke with a still small voice as He did to Elijah (1 Kings 19:12), when it came time to proclaim the Ten Commandments to the Israelites in the wilderness He wanted to impress the people with the importance and majesty of His law as the constitution of His kingdom and thus He appeared with terrifying grandeur in a very stormy thundercloud. Stormy thunder clouds can be very powerful and have caused many to fear and to cry out to God. We see how helpless we are in these storms. As great as man thinks he is, he is helpless when a fierce thunderstorm rolls in. Thus, the Lord was showing the Israelites how helpless they are before God; how holy His law is. It was hoped that this would impress them with an understanding of the terrible results of not obeying the law. “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled.” Exodus 19:16. “Mid thunders and lightnings God spoke His law in the hearing of that vast multitude. God gave the occasion of the giving of the law one of awful grandeur. He desired that the people should understand the exalted character of His law. The people must be taught that everything connected with His service must be regarded with the greatest reverence.” –That I May Know Him, p. 237
Although the cloud hides the glory of God so that people are not overcome by His brightness, this same cloud provides an opportunity for Him to reveal the truth to His people. It was in the cloud on the mountain that Moses went up to commune with the Lord. “And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.” Exodus 24:18
But, it is not possible for any sinner to enter into the full glory of God and live. Later we see the Lord in the tabernacle in a cloud, and even Moses at that time could not enter. “And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle.” Exodus 40:35. While in the cloud on the mountain, the Lord was still hidden in the cloud while He spoke with Moses. Moses did not see His full glory.
When the cloud was in the Most Holy Place no one could enter, not even the high Priest, on pain of death. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.” Leviticus 16:2
On the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus was covered with a cloud when He was glorified. “While He yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye Him.” Matthew 17:5. The three disciples on the Mount of Transfiguration witnessed the glory of God, although hidden by a cloud. Through what they heard from the cloud, they were eye-witnesses of the fact that He was truly the Son of God as He claimed to be. After Jesus’ resurrection, John writes, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14. He personally beheld the glory of the Word.
Years later, Peter, likewise connected Jesus with the glory of God: “For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 2 Peter 1:17
When Jesus went up to heaven it is said that He went in a cloud, “And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9
When He comes again, He will also come with a cloud. “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” Luke 21:27. “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on His head a golden crown, and in His hand a sharp sickle. And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to Him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And He that sat on the cloud thrust in His sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.” Revelation 14:14–16. This cloud that was at His ascension and will be at His Second Coming is one and the same. It is not the same cloud that veiled His glory throughout history. It was a cloud of angels who received Jesus back to heaven and a cloud of angels that will come in all their glory with Jesus when He returns to this earth and “who shall be able to stand?” Revelation 6:17. Yes there are some, “He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 24:4. There will be no cloud to veil His glory when He returns. Jesus will return in the full brilliance of His glory and the glory of all the angels with Him. “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of His mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of His coming.” 2 Thessalonians 2:8. “Behold, He cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see Him, and they also which pierced Him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of Him.” Revelation 1:7
The saints will join Jesus in the cloud of angels. “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 1:17
One of my favourite verses regarding clouds is, “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto Me; for I have redeemed thee.” Isaiah 44:22. Our sins will be hidden behind thick clouds when we repent. They will no longer be seen. They are hidden from view and will be blotted out of the book of records in heaven. As sun and wind disperse the clouds so the Son of righteousness sweeps away the transgressions of His people.
Today we have a Cloud in the computing world. What is this cloud? It is a service that securely stores all your photos, files, notes, passwords and other data in the cloud and keeps it up to date and can be accessed by all your devices.
Is this not what Jesus is for us? He is a cloud where all records of our life are securely stored as well as all that is important to us, and He can be accessed at any time and anywhere. There are no limits.
Never let the sight of dark clouds bring you down. Remember, back of the clouds, the sun is always shining. Jesus is there and He will always be available when you need Him. Do not be under the clouds, but look up and keep your head above the clouds and in the sunshine of Jesus.
When you are alone in your home, away from the world, who is in your cloud? Is it Jesus or the world? Who are you spending most of your time with? As Moses was in the cloud on Mount Sinai with Jesus, you also can be in a cloud with Jesus. You can be temporarily shut out from the world and be alone with Him, not being disturbed by anything around you. Is this not what you do when you have your private worship? And also when you commune with Him throughout the day? Yet, how little time we sometimes take in that cloud.
Next time you look up in the sky and see the clouds, whether they are white or dark, remember that Jesus is up there in the clear blue sky. Watch the clouds move and change shape and envision Jesus working in your life to help you grow and to change from your sinful carnal nature to a heavenly beautiful nature that will be ready to live in heaven. “Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” Luke 21:28 Amen.
Wendy Eaton