"It's Awful Wet Out There", by Pastor Kevin Lynch

It is wet. In the rain.

You get wet. I get wet. We all get wet.

In a crowd of 10,000 caught in a sudden rain, we all get wet.

Doesn't matter if you're a believer or a non-believer.

Rain or shine, we are all exposed.

It's biblical.

Matt. 5:45 - He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

I read somewhere a Christian said, "Yeah, but the only difference is that the Christian has an umbrella."

I think that's a poor analogy.

It insinuates that Christians aren't exposed to or don't suffer through the same issues that non-Christians do.

Faulty theology. Crooked doctrine. Poor exegetical skills.

In fact, the previous verses (which is why reading the bible contextually is important) explains basically that we are all in this life together, and that we are supposed to care for each other, even our enemies.

Yes, we are supposed to love our enemies, particularly those who persecute us.

He attaches our salvation to it.

Matt. 5:44 -45 - But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, (45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.

This is the purpose of the remark about the sun and rain falling on the good and the bad.

It signifies that He loves us all.

And His charge to us is that we should do no less.

If we are going to stand out in the rain with the unfortunate and gloat that we are not getting wet because of Jesus, we have sorely missed the point of the scripture.

Certainly sun can mean the sun, and rain can mean the physical rain, but I think it's more metaphorical.

Sun represents the goodness and blessings in life. Rain represents the trials and difficulties.

The only difference is not in who experiences these things, but who walks with us when we do.

When we do. When we do. When we do.

Get it down deep. Because if your life has been perfect up until now, with no "rain" at all, rest assured your "drought" will end.

Rain is coming. Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow.

But someday.

The question is not whether you will get wet, but who will comfort you in your wetness.

This is why we call our little church "Real Life". This is why we associate Real Life with Jesus when we say: You + Jesus = Real Life.

It's clouds. It's rain. It's sun. It's heat. It's cold. It's all the joyfulness and sadness that life entails.

It's all real, and we are in it with the human race, but Jesus is the factor that makes it complete realness.

Jesus, in the midst of sorrow or joy, rain or shine, makes a difference.

I hope you sense His real presence today in your life regardless of what you are experiencing.

Keepin' it Real,

Pastor Kevin <><