Rainbows In The Sky

Have you ever wanted a second chance at something? Perhaps an opportunity to retake a test or maybe react differently to a particular situation? Have you ever wanted a second chance at a new life?

Noah and his family represents humanity’s second opportunity to carry out God command to fill the earth with godliness in all its forms and aspects. Like Adam and Eve, Noah and his family are told to fill the earth, manage its resources and establish a godly heritage. Like Adam and Eve Noah, his family and humanity are recognized as the dominant creature on the earth. Like Adam and Eve, Noah, his family and humanity are brought into a special covenantal relationship with the Lord.

How was Noah to view this opportunity and what does that mean for us today?

Noah, his family and humanity were to multiply on the earth and fill God’s planet with godly offspring and godly culture.

The call establishes mankind as the dominant responsible creation on the earth. We are dominant in that the earth was created for our blessing and enjoyment and responsible in that we are to care for, tend and manage the earth’s resources.
This command is similar to the one God gave Adam and Eve recorded in Genesis 1. As the leaders of a new humanity on a new earth Noah and his sons would have had a similar mandate. That mandate is to be fruitful, multiply and spread through the earth bringing godly culture. There are at least four areas affected by this call:

Godly theology - The true knowledge, worship, service and delight in the Lord.

Godly economics - Managing and utilizing the earth’s resources in such a way that everyone who wishes can biblical prosperity. Biblical prosperity is the kind of prosperity that results from hard work, sound investment, generous giving, God’s blessing and our thanksgiving. For example how did God set up the economy of the Hebrews.

Godly politics - Engaging in politics to bring true justice and wellbeing to all who live in a community, city, province or country.
Godly culture - Pursuing artistic expression such as painting, architecture, drama, music etc. to reveal the beauty, wisdom, love and righteousness of God.

The Christian life isn’t just confined to the so-called spiritual realm. We are to engage our society in all of its relevant areas. Though we start with spreading the gospel we don’t end there. Whatever community He’s placed us in is our field of holistic mission. We’re interested in spreading godly theology, economics, politics various forms of art and whatever else contributes to the well being of our community and brings glory to God.
You don’t have to be in full-time vocational pulpit ministry to exercise a godly influence in our community, society and culture.

You can be a godly teacher and teach in such a way that brings out the intellectual capital God has put in the minds of your students.

You can be a godly filmmaker and use that art form to tell stories that reflect God’s beauty, righteous, redemption and need for justice. For example we watched a movie recently called Invisible Children that highlighted the plight of thousands of children in Northern Uganda caught up in a brutal civil war.
Though that movie wasn’t make by Christians and didn’t feature an overt Christian message it did highlight many biblical themes such as the truth that all people are created in God’s image, that it is the responsibility of all to speak up for justice, that unholy and unbiblical theology can at times have disastrous consequences.

Godly families. Noah and his sons first call and responsibility was to establish godly families. This particular aspect of the command is relevant to men today. Men are to seek God and godliness by looking to marry.

Noah, his family and humanity were to cultivate a high value of human life.

People are created in God’s image for the purpose of knowing, worshiping, serving, loving and delighting in Him. God and only God reserves the right to end life. Because people have the calling of spreading godliness throughout the earth their lives must be valued so that they can carry out that task. This command may have been given in light of the violence that was so rampant before the flood.

Noah and his sons were to make a clear distinction between animals and people. Animals could be domesticated, used for hard labor and even raised to provide food for people. People however were never to be viewed and treated like animals.

God will personally and individually call to account each person who takes the life or lives of others. Moreover, He has instituted and charged governmental authorities with the responsibility of dealing with those who take life.
This command also calls for Christian communities everywhere to demonstrate our value for the life and well being of every individual.

Finally, God makes a covenant to confirm His perpetual care for humanity.

A covenant is a solemn binding commitment between two parties. For example the covenant of marriage. Biblical covenants are always initiated by the Lord as an expression of His love, grace, care and desire to relate to His people and are the way God relates to His creation. God’s covenants promise blessing and benefit to those who enter it, conditioned upon their continued obedience. Covenants are made with people, their children and their descendents. Covenants are accompanied with a sign to remind the participants of the covenant and it blessings and responsibilities. Thus the sign of God providential care of this present world is the rainbow. Whenever we see a rainbow therefore we should be reminded of God’s gracious care for us, our responsibility to spread godliness throughout the earth and the high value and significance God places on each and every individual.

The cross is the sign of the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus that moves us to consider the new earth that God will create and give to those who’ve trusted in Jesus Christ.

To Him Who Loves Us…
Pastor Lance