What is a cloud? Water vapor, nothing more. Yet, these effervescent vapor trails strung across the heavens are part of our vocabulary and our culture in so many ways.
Sunsets are more beautiful when clouds catch the colors of the sky and splay them across the heavens. A daydreamer is said to be lost in the clouds. Vocalist Jimmy Cliff sings about seeing clearly once the clouds are gone. Musical artist Carly Simon found clouds in her coffee. Singer Joni Mitchell was able to see both sides of her clouds, and still, she didn’t know them at all.
What does the Bible say about clouds?
Matthew 24:30 says:
“Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
Hebrews 12:1 tells us:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
1 Thessalonians 4:17 quotes:
“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.”
Revelation 1:7 challenges us to keep watch:
“Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.”
Matthew 26:64 reveals our coming King:
“Jesus said to him, ‘You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ ”
Nahum 1:3 shows us the reality of God’s nature:
“The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.”
Revelation 14:14 paints a vivid picture:
“Then I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and seated on the cloud one like a son of man, with a golden crown on his head, and a sharp sickle in his hand.”
Daniel 7:13 speaks of the coming of Christ:
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.”
Revelation 21:3 gives us renewal in our walk with Christ:
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’ ”
Humanity might be lost in the clouds, but as Christians, we see God in the very fabric of the makeup of the heavens. The rising storm is the hand of our Father, and the soothing sunset is his love for us. If we look at clouds from both sides, we will find the Father’s glory written all over them.
When we look for God in the clouds, we will find him and begin to understand the mysteries of who he created us to be.
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