Last week God graced the Outer Banks with an incredible double rainbow. Rainbows are not uncommon here: There will be a certain light in the sky during or right after a rain that will signal the optimum circumstance for a rainbow to appear. When I see this, I run outside and nine time out of ten, I will find it. Do you know how rainbows get their color? According to National Geographic Education, “a rainbow is a multicolored arc made by light striking water droplets. The most familiar type rainbow is produced when sunlight strikes raindrops in front of a viewer at a precise angle (42 degrees). Rainbows can also be viewed around fog, sea spray, or waterfalls. 

A rainbow is an optical illusion—it does not actually exist in a specific spot in the sky. The appearance of a rainbow depends on where you’re standing and where the sun (or other source of light) is shining. The sun or other source of light is usually behind the person seeing the rainbow. In fact, the center of a primary rainbow is the antisolar point, the imaginary point exactly opposite the sun. 

Rainbows are the result of the refraction and reflection of light. Both refraction and reflection are phenomena that involve a change in a wave’s direction. A refracted wave may appear “bent,” while a reflected wave might seem to “bounce back” from a surface or other wavefront. Light entering a water droplet is refracted. It is then reflected by the back of the droplet. As this reflected light leaves the droplet, it is refracted again, at multiple angles.”

Refraction and reflection. Bending and bouncing back. Providing a visual of something intangible: In the same way, we are called to provide a representation of Jesus to all who see us, so that people may see him through us. 

Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message)

^14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

Last week, we celebrated the life of one of my favorite people. This man was the patriarch of a three-generation family that attends our church. He was kind, He was fun and funny. He was a solid refraction and reflection of Jesus Christ in everything he said and did. I will truly miss my friend. Just a few hours after his funeral, this rainbow in the picture below appeared over our little island. I think it was God’s message to us that all is well in both heaven and earth. Dickie has come home to the Lord and leaves a legacy of God-colors for us to live up to.

Where is God calling you to refract and reflect his light so that others may see his Son in you? Climb that hilltop, and shine.

God-Colors by Tim Neal