What Cloud Are You Living Under?

Are you living under a cloud?

Joe Btfsplk was a character in the classic comic strip, “Li’l Abner.” Poor Joe always appeared with a raincloud hovering over his head—a cloud that followed him his entire life.

Many live with a similar cloud, especially those diagnosed with diseases such as cancer, even after the cancer is declared to be gone. The cloud may temporarily disappear until time rolls around for another follow-up scan or blood test. Then the cloud reappears, growing darker as the test date approaches. And a familiar question accompanies it. Has the cancer returned?

I can relate. A cancer diagnosis is behind me, yet each follow-up scan and blood test reminds me the cloud is not far off. Life is fragile and can change in an instant. But as a child of God in Christ, I also have a different cloud. This one is larger, more powerful, and supersedes any other cloud that would distract me from keeping my eyes on the Lord. This cloud represents the presence of God.

Pillar of Cloud

When Moses led ancient Israel out of Egyptian slavery and into the wilderness, God chose to guide His people in a unique way. A pillar of fire guided them by night, providing both light and warmth during the cold desert nights. And a pillar of cloud led them by day, providing a visual sign of God’s presence and glory while shielding them from the hot desert sun.

Discomfort due to extreme desert temperatures combined with the uncertainty caused by circular travels in the wilderness were no match for God’s glorious presence. Today—cancer or no cancer—Christians have the privilege of experiencing God’s presence, not through an external cloud, but by the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit.

More “C” Words

Cloud and cancer are not the only “C” words familiar to Christians. Consider these verses:

• We are God’s children (John 1:12).
• We are comforted (2 Cor. 1:3).
• We are crucified with Christ (Gal. 2:20).
• We are clothed in Christ (Gal. 3:27).
• We are chosen (2 Tim. 2:10).
• We are cleansed from sin by Christ’s blood (1 John 1:7).
• We are called (Jude 1).

We live in a broken world. Life will bring dark clouds. But God’s presence, signified by a cloud for the Israelites thousands of years ago, covers His children today. Comforted, crucified, clothed, chosen, cleansed, and called. Clouds of fear can’t compete!

Which cloud are you living under:
a covering of fear or the covering of God’s presence?