Following the Rainbow

Psalm 23:6 NKJV

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

Introduction

This week at VBS we’ve talked about Ireland.

When most people think of Ireland, they think of green hills, shamrocks, rainbows, leprechauns, and pots of gold.

But there was a real man who lived many years ago named Maewyn Succat.

Maewyn was not born in Ireland. As a teenager he was kidnapped and taken to Ireland as a slave. During those difficult years, Maewyn came to know God in a personal way. After escaping and returning home, Maewyn gave his life to Jesus and changed his name to Patrick. Later God called him to go back to Ireland and tell people about Jesus.

Can you imagine that?

Going back to the place where you had been enslaved because you loved the people enough to tell them about Christ.

One tradition says Patrick used a shamrock to explain the Trinity.

He would hold up a shamrock and ask, “How many leaves do you see?”

The answer was three.

Then he would ask, “How many shamrocks do you see?”

The answer was one.

Patrick used that simple plant to teach that God is one God revealed in three Persons:

God the Father

God the Son

God the Holy Spirit

Patrick wasn’t trying to get people excited about shamrocks.

He was trying to help people know Jesus.

And David, in Psalm 23, wasn’t trying to teach us about sheep.

He was teaching us about the Good Shepherd.

Today I want us to see three wonderful truths about the Shepherd.

I. The Shepherd Gives Us a Certain Promise

David begins with one powerful word:

“Surely.”

Not maybe.

Not hopefully.

Not possibly.

Surely.

David had faced giants.

David had faced enemies.

David had faced failure.

David had faced heartbreak.

Yet after looking back over his life he could confidently say:

“Surely.”

God had never failed him.

God had never abandoned him.

God had never broken a promise.

Children, adults, listen carefully:

People sometimes break promises.

Friends may disappoint you.

Even family members can let you down.

But God never fails.

Rainbow Connection

After the flood, God placed a rainbow in the sky as a sign of His covenant.

Every time we see a rainbow, we’re reminded that God keeps His promises.

The rainbow isn’t a symbol of luck.

It’s a symbol of God’s faithfulness.

David says, “Surely.”

The rainbow says, “Surely.”

God always keeps His Word.

II. The Shepherd Gives Us a Greater Treasure

David continues:

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

The word “follow” is stronger than we often think.

Get two volunteers to help play the role of goodness and mercy.

Have them follow you around the stage.

It means to pursue.

To chase after.

To run after.

David says God’s goodness and mercy are pursuing him every day of his life.

Luke 19:10 NKJV

10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Goodness

God’s goodness is every blessing He gives us.

Our families.

Our church.

Our food.

Our friends.

Every breath we take.

Most importantly, the gift of salvation.

Mercy

Mercy is God’s loving kindness and faithfulness

We deserve judgment because of our sin.

But God sent Jesus to take our place.

Mercy means Jesus received the punishment we deserved so we could receive the forgiveness we did not deserve.

The Pot of Gold

Many stories talk about a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.

People spend their lives chasing treasure.

Money.

Popularity.

Success.

Possessions.

But David found a greater treasure.

The treasure wasn’t gold.

The treasure was God’s goodness and mercy.

The greatest treasure you can ever find is Jesus Christ.

You can have a room full of gold and still be lost.

But if you have Jesus, you have eternal life.

III. The Shepherd Gives Us an Eternal Home

David ends with these beautiful words:

“And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

This is where the rainbow points us.

People say there’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

But the Bible tells us something far better awaits God’s people.

A home with God forever.

David knew life on earth would not last forever.

He knew troubles would come.

He knew death would come.

Yet he could say:

“I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Not for a day.

Not for a week.

Forever.

Heaven Is Home

One day every believer will arrive home.

No sickness.

No pain.

No sadness.

No death.

No tears.

Only joy in the presence of God forever.

That’s where the Shepherd is leading His sheep.

The Most Important Question

Notice what David says at the beginning of Psalm 23:

“The LORD is my shepherd.”

Not “a shepherd.”

Not “our shepherd.”

“My shepherd.”

This is personal.

The question today is not:

Do you know about Jesus?

Do you attend church?

Did you come to VBS?

The question is:

Is Jesus your Shepherd?

Jesus said:

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.”

The Good Shepherd loved you so much that He went to the cross.

He died for your sins.

He was buried.

Three days later He rose again.

Today He offers forgiveness and eternal life to everyone who will trust Him.

Invitation

Patrick pointed people to Jesus with a shamrock.

David pointed people to Jesus with a shepherd.

Today I want to point you to the same Savior.

One day every one of us will stand before God.

The only people who can say,

“I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever,”

are those who know the Shepherd.

If you have never trusted Christ, today can be the day.

Turn from your sin.

Believe that Jesus died and rose again.

Trust Him as your Savior and Shepherd.

Then His goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life.

And one day He will lead you safely home.

Conclusion

The world says there is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

God says there is something far greater.

There is a Savior who loves you.

A Shepherd who died for you.

A promise that will never fail you.

And a home waiting for you in Heaven.

So don’t spend your life chasing gold.

Find Jesus and hold on to him.

Follow the Shepherd.

Because the Shepherd always leads His sheep home.