I learned an important lesson last Friday night. I made my way to Blacksburg to watch the High School football team. As I approached Gaffney, the skies turned pitch black and I knew I was in trouble. Why is it that most people aren’t as prepared as they need to be when trouble is brewing? Sure enough, before I could get to Blacksburg, the rains began to pour. I had a poncho, but decided against an umbrella. BIG MISTAKE! Even heavier rains came and then the lightning began. It only took two flashes of lightning for me to make my way to safety. It was there, underneath the concrete bleachers that I heard the Lord talking to me.

I noticed several things. First of all, I noticed that some were prepared to the max. They had rain suits, umbrellas, water proof boots….just to name a few things. Secondly, I saw some that were adequately prepared. They had a poncho and umbrella or at least an umbrella. Thirdly, I saw some that were not prepared at all. They had no poncho, no umbrella, no nothing! But then I saw something amazing (I guess their parents would call it dumb). I saw some young people that had umbrellas and/or ponchos, yet they weren’t using them. They were soaking wet and they were finding every mud puddle they could find, just to slosh around splash on others. There under those bleachers, the Lord began to burden my heart. The book of Joel chapter 2 talks about “rain”. There’s a former rain and latter rain. Both had significance to the people at the time, but they also had prophetic significance as well. We sing a chorus on occasion that says, “Let it rain, let it rain….open the flood gate of heaven, let it rain”. I heard the Lord relating the physical rain that was going on around me to the rain He wants to send.

Many people are so protected from the rain that nothing gets wet. Too many of God’s people have built walls around them so that the rain of God’s glory can’t fall on them, can’t even penetrate down to their soul and spirit. Some are able to get their feet wet, but really are trying to stay dry. Some people want just enough of God to make them feel better, but not consumed enough to have to do much changing. Then there were those people that were just caught off guard or those that purposefully let their umbrella down. They were totally, absolutely drenched. That’s what the Lord impressed upon me. Some people thought they were foolish. Other’s worried about them. Still some tried to help them out of their plight. Truth was, they didn’t want any help and didn’t want out of their plight. They were having fun!

Oh, if men and women would come out from under their coverings and allow the rain of God to flood their soul. I’m not talking about a drizzle or a slight mist. I’m talking about a downpour!!!!! Joel says when the latter rain comes, the Lord’s Spirit will be poured out on all flesh. Sons and daughters will prophesy. Old men will dream dreams and young men will see visions. Rain brings change!!!! I say its time to hide the ponchos and umbrellas. It’s time to seek out the rain and let the rain soak us. I’m ready for a soaking! How about you?