Rain and Common Grace

These few days there were evening rains and I was caught in one of them today. It is easy for one to dislike the rain as it spoils our mood or our little plans. No (sane) one likes getting drenched when they were comfortably dry. No (sane) one likes their shoes to get wet. And there, a subtle grumble at the back of our minds.

I was waiting for the rain to die down a little earlier. So, I just stood there thinking, why must there be rain? It is a basic question but asking that will pin down the grumble at the back of my mind. And the answer is obvious. Rain, being part of the water cycle is used to water the plants (and perhaps more). God waters the plants through rain. Who else would bother to water all the plants in my neighborhood, in Singapore and even in the world?

See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these...

Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them...

God showed His love not only by sending His son to die for us but also sustaining His creations, including Man. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. This is common grace (that we don't deserve and often take for granted): the heat from the sun and moisture of the rain water. Oh, how can we ever live without sun and rain!

When you encounter the heat, follow (in your mind) the rays of the sun to the sun and to its great creator. When you encounter the rain, trace the path it came from. (*points upwards*)