The Cool Mist of God

Have you ever stood just off to the side of a waterfall and felt the cool mist or spray that floats up and out from the fall? Many times, hiking to see a waterfall leaves you in need of a bit of refreshment. While it can be said, the mist rising off the falls is from God that is not the point of this article. What is the point?

‘Seasons of refreshing’ or ‘times of refreshing’ as Peter put it to the crowds gathered at Pentecost shortly after the Lord ascended to heaven. Refreshing would be theirs if they converted and then had their sins blotted out. The Greek word used for ‘refreshing’ in Acts 3:19 is: anapsyxis and means “a cooling”.

Was your conversion and subsequent repentance of sin a refreshing experience for you? Did you feel ‘a cooling’? Invigorated? Recharged? Revitalized? Some may say yes because each person’s conversion is different than the next. But if you say no, is that a wrong answer? NO! Actually, in context, this passage is merely a portion of a larger speech Peter gave to a lot of folks who were not already part of ‘The Way’. They were told IF they converted and had their sins blotted out the refreshing would come from the presence of the Lord. Some years later the Lord had his beloved friend, John, write down this invitation: “The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” [Rev 22:17] Then there is this wonderful visual: “Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushing fountains of endless life." [John 4:14]

Are you feeling refreshed yet? Do you see the simile between water - refreshing and the ‘mist of God’?

What do you do to refresh? Or, what is refreshing to you? If you live somewhere hot, is it going somewhere with a nip in the air? A chilled fresh strawberry? Standing atop a mountain and gazing over the earth? Playing with your pet? Diving into the lake in early spring? Riding a motorcycle with the wind in your face? A hobby? Grandkids? The ‘refreshing’ from Christ’s presence is ‘a cooling’.

Most people describe the world as a harsh place. Life is tough. People seek escape it is so unpleasant. Yet the simple truth is turning to Christ, repenting of our sins, those are the two things we must do, that and if we are thirsty, drink of Christ’s waters freely.

The things we do to refresh ourselves are only momentary. They work, but only for a little while. We will be refreshed for all eternity when the time has come for Christ to return. During the harsher times when the worst of this world is tough to handle if you cannot indulge in a moment of refreshing to sustain you perhaps in your mind’s eye you can picture yourself standing on the side of the water fall and the mist falling gently upon you, refreshing you. Then, while you are there, remember the invitation? Come, takes life’s water free! In the words of Revelation: “Yes! Come, Master Jesus!”

There are many faith triggers™ in life. One could be the next time you are in need of refreshing and you find yourself refreshed you remember to thank God for HIS promise: When it is HIS time ‘seasons of refreshing’ will be your EVERY day of life. We can thank God for the gentle mist that settles lightly on our skin. Thank HIM too that HE is so awesome HE created the powerful waterfall and from it the gentle spray. What an awe-inspiring God!

Point of contemplation: How does your love of God refresh you?