Last Saturday hubby and I and our daughter drove out Highway 2 into the Cascades to see a beautiful waterfall. The name of this waterfall is: Deception Falls.
As I stood in awe of the power of the rushing waters! … and as I was pondering the majesty and splendor of Jesus, whose very voice is like the sound of many rushing waters! … in that very moment, the sun shone through the mist of the rushing waters – and a rainbow appeared.
This photo didn’t quite capture it, but if you look closely, you can just barely see the rainbow in the mist & spray (just to the right of the center of the photo).
In that very moment … my immediate “blink” reaction was to think of the false, fake, counterfeit version of marriage.
As soon as I saw the rainbow in the mist, I immediately thought of the false, fake counterfeit version of marriage.
Deception!!
Deception at the Falls!!
Marriage is God’s. God created marriage at very beginning of time. At the very beginning of all things, when God created the very first man … God specifically created a woman for the man, to be the bride of the man. God created marriage! (you can read about this in Genesis 2:18-24)
Marriage is God’s!
Furthermore, marriage is God’s own picture of Jesus and his bride (all those who love and follow Jesus!).
In addition, the rainbow is God’s. God created the rainbow specifically to be a sign of God’s love and care for all humanity and every living creature on the earth. (you can read about this in Genesis 9:12-17)
The rainbow is God’s!
The rainbow belongs to God and God alone … a rainbow surrounds the throne of God in Heaven!
“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. … and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it. And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.”
– Revelation 4:1-3
The rainbow belongs to God and God alone!
Deception has taken place!
Deception at the Fall!
“The great dragon was hurled down – that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” – Revelation 12:9
“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8
Downstream of Deception Falls, all along the wetlands, Devil’s Club was growing.
Devil’s Club looks like a maple leaf … but it is a counterfeit. It is false. It is fake. It is not actually a maple.
Devil’s Club has woody stems which are densely covered in noxious, irritating prickly spines. If you touch them, you will suffer the consequences!
As a sprawling shrub, Devil’s Club forms tangling thickets.
Also, growing downstream of Deception Falls, was Bride’s Bonnet.
Bride’s Bonnet is a type of lily. As you can see, the bud of the bloom is just beginning to form. It will be blooming soon!
What will the bloom look like?
I don’t know. I’ve never seen Bride’s Bonnet before.
But the beauty of the Bride’s Bonnet will be revealed … soon!
The Devil’s Club and Bride’s Bonnet, growing together along the streambanks and in the wetland areas below Deception Falls reminded me of Jesus’s parable of “The Wheat and the Weeds.” (you can read about this parable in Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)
In the parable – the “wheat” represents all those who love and follow Jesus Christ. In our forest example, we could compare this to the Bride’s Bonnet. Those who love and follow Jesus are referred to as “The Bride of Christ.”
In the parable – the “weeds” represent all those who willfully choose to reject Jesus. In our forest example, we could compare this to the Devil’s Club. These people have been deceived by Satan, the Devil.
Deception!
Deception at the Falls!
“I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray …” – 2 Corinthians 11:3
What God creates … Satan counterfeits!
People’s minds have been deceived! People have been deceived by Satan’s counterfeit rainbow. People have been deceived by Satan’s counterfeit version of marriage.
“Above all else, guard your heart [mind] for it is the wellspring of life.” – Proverbs 4:23
“God opposes the proud.”
– James 4:6
– 1 Peter 5:5
– Proverbs 4:34
“Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked.” – Galatians 6:7
“… the Lord Jesus will overthrow [the lawless one] with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. … the work of Satan is displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:8-10
“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True [this is Jesus!]. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire.
“His name is the Word of God. [this is Jesus!] The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron scepter. He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
– Revelation 19:11-16
Deception Falls … gives us a picture of Bride’s Bonnet growing along together with Devil’s Club.
At the end of all time the great and glorious Groom [Jesus Christ!] will return for His bride!
Jesus will take His beautiful Bride to Heaven to be with Him forever! And those who have willfully chosen the deception of the Devil’s club, will be cast with the Devil into the punishment of Hell forever.
