One of the most beautiful things to see on the earth is the rainbow. Depending on your vantage point, you will see a wonderful array of colours, and even may see what is commonly referred to as a “double rainbow.” Astounding!! You’ll need someone smarter than I to explain the how of rainbows, but I can sure tell you Who put it there and why.
After the flood ended, and Noah and his family had exited the ark, the LORD spoke to them. He said:
…this is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me
and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual
generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for a
sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when
I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in
the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between
Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters
shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. The rainbow
shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the
everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of
all flesh that is on the earth. (Genesis 9:12-16)
When a rainbow is seen in the sky, it is a reminder of God’s covenant with Noah—a covenant which was “for perpetual generations.” That means when we see the rainbow in the sky, it is a sign of God’s covenant with us. The presence of the rainbow after the rain is a sign of His faithfulness. He has promised that He will never again destroy all flesh by water as He did in Noah’s day. In saying He will “remember the everlasting covenant,” the thought is not that He would otherwise forget, but rather that He will be faithful to His promise. The rainbow is a symbol of God’s faithfulness.
Cultural appropriation has become a huge discussion in recent years. Folks become indignant when the customs, practices, or images belonging to a specific group of people are taken and exploited by others. The LGBT+ movement has snatched a symbol which does not belong to them—the rainbow. The “pride flag,” designed by Gilbert Baker, was revealed at a “gay pride” parade in June 1978. This was a blatant misappropriation which many are either unaware of or unconcerned about.
I am not homophobic, transphobic, or any of the other common labels levied against those who do not endorse the various LGBT+ lifestyles. I do not need nor do I expect the approval of those who object to Christianity. Equally, I feel no need to validate or approve a lifestyle which is contrary to my faith. I believe people can disagree, even on major topics, and still be kind and loving to one another. The Bible tells me so.
Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to
what is good. (Romans 12:9)
We are commanded by God to show love to our brethren, neighbours, and enemies alike (1 John 4:11; Luke 10:27; 6:27). The Bible says as much as is possible, we are to be peaceable with all (Romans 12:18). But we must do so without compromising morality. We cannot approve what the Lord has condemned. Just as the Lord loves people but hates sin, we are to love people, whomever they are, but abhor sin. All sin is abhorrent, whether it is sexual or not. And all sexual misconduct is equally loathsome before God, no matter what it is. We’re told:
Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled; but
fornicators and adulterers God will judge. (Hebrews 13:4)
Fornication is any sexual activity outside the lawful marriage of a man and a woman. Obviously that includes homosexuality. Paul indicated the homosexual behaviour among the Gentiles displayed their desire to remove God from their knowledge (Romans 1:24-29). Some in Corinth had engaged in same-sex relationships before their conversion to Christ (1 Corinthians 6:9-11), but they turned from it so they might serve God.
Friends, the rainbow DOES NOT belong to the homosexual community. It has been shamelessly seized and used to represent a way of life which is contrary to the God who created it and us. Though they may employ it in all kinds of propaganda to justify and normalize the lifestyle choices they have made, they are powerless to put even a single colour of a rainbow in the sky. When a rainbow appears in the sky, know that it is God who put it there, and it is a proclamation of His faithfulness to all mankind.
