You know how you are sitting, daydreaming and you have a profound thought? That happens to me all the time and it becomes the inspiration for a blog post.
I was thinking the other day about how in Heaven there is no night or darkness. In Heaven, God’s light is bright and always on and no one can put themselves into the shadows of darkness like here on earth. Then I began thinking about different types of umbrellas. These “umbrellas” are used for coverings or protection but many times these “umbrellas” are used to keep God out.
The first umbrella is the portable umbrella. These are carried in a backpack or car console and stored away for unpredicted storms that blow in. They are small and used for a short time. Well, I believe if we think about how umbrellas can be compared to shadows and dark places we can understand how we shield ourselves from God’s light. Let me better explain this.
There are times when we may have brief anxiety. Let’s say when we have a sudden unexpected meeting in the boss’s office. We see dark clouds coming in (the uncertainty of what the boss wants) and we grab our portable umbrella (a shield of defense against the uncertainty). We put this “umbrella” up to keep us dry. Although it is small and unable to keep all the rain (the boss’s words) off us. It only does partly well in protecting us. As we put the small shield of defense up against the uncertainty it will also fail to fully protect us it is way too small.
We grab the “umbrella” (shield) to protect us from the harshness we feel is coming from our boss. It has to be bad right? The boss doesn’t talk to me. We forget that rain serves a purpose. Rain quenches the thirst of our plants and fills ponds and lakes. It’s positive. Same as God’s light. We feel that the small umbrella will take the brunt of the boss’s wrath we forget that God does that for us in His light. We don’t have to pull out this small “umbrella” when we have God.
If we don’t put up the “umbrella” and let the rain fall on us maybe the sunshine (God’s light) will come quickly. Maybe the umbrella only holds a spot of darkness over us, not allowing the full rain and sunshine (God’s light) to fall on us fully.
Let me give you another example. Remember the clear bubble umbrella? They were made of clear plastic and bubbled around you. They were good at giving you more protection but if it was a hot day it was like being in a sauna. Very hot…..but dry.
This type of umbrella covers you really well and you are exposed to the sun. I think of some of the people I know and they tell me they are Christians yet their actions don’t match their words. These people are using a clear bubble umbrella. They feel protected and covered by the “umbrella” and they have God’s light on them or so they think. They are showing themselves inside their “umbrella”. Actually, this is the worst umbrella to be under. You feel protected and in the warm sunshine (God’s light) for everyone to see but the heat from the sun and plastic combined gets humid and stuffy. Just like pretending to be in faith and understanding God’s word.
The people using this “umbrella” are feeling protected because they say they are Christian and feel that God will protect them with His covering (“umbrella”). This is a false sense of security. God sees them through that clear plastic knowing their true heart. Nothing is hidden from God, yet they are parading their umbrella in full view for all to see.
Then there is the big golf umbrella. Wide, vented for gusts of wind, and very protecting.
This umbrella tends to be a great option for “umbrellas”. Why is this one better you may ask? It’s better because it allows for two people to be under it to stay dry. It also has vents cut into the umbrellas to allow wind to move through the vents. This allows you to hang onto the umbrella and not be blown out of your hands. Lastly, the shape of the umbrella is wide and slanted for protection from the rain.
Let me break this “umbrella” down a bit more. First, an “umbrella” that allows two or more to be protected and dry is called fellowship. One can lean on the other if rain appears in their life. Fellowship and support are necessary.
Matthew 18:20 – For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Ecclessiates 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
Next, the vents protect us from our “umbrella” blowing away in storms. The wind moves through the slits to keep things stable. God calms our storms.
Luke 8:25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”
Also, the golf umbrella is wider than a regular umbrella with slanted sides. It is designed to protect us from rain that falls straight down or at an angle. Just like God, He protects us from all sides and situations.
Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his feathers.
He will shelter you with his wings.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
I don’t want this blog post to seem judgemental, remember how it started. You know how you are sitting, daydreaming and you have a profound thought?
This started as just a thought and a comparison of umbrellas. Relating them to different types of examples of how we are allowing God to cover us. How we may be tricking ourselves into thinking we are being good Christian yet not allowing God to fully protect us. Opening our eyes to a simple understanding that we need to be under golf umbrellas. Golf umbrellas with friends in fellowship, letting God blow through us in the storms while opening ourselves to the falling rain allowing His protection.
May you feel God’s love and blessings today. My love and gratitude for you-LoLo
gratefulgratitude.net 