By Sarah Holliday

Over the weekend, the crown of the 2023 Miss Netherlands competition — a competition designed for women — was given to Rikkie Valerie Kollé, a 22-year-old man who identifies as a transgender woman. The results are “being overshadowed by online backlash,” as phrased by Newsweek. However, it is more accurate to say the backlash is appropriately warranted. This is a competition for women, after all, not a costume party for men who don’t grasp reality.

Political commentator Eva Vlaardingerbroek tweeted, “A man just won ‘Miss Netherlands’ 2023. Considering the fact that we live in a post-truth world, I wasn’t even expecting anything else. It’s all so predictable and unoriginal at this point.” By winning the Miss Netherlands competition, Kollé has secured a spot in the 2024 Miss Universe competition as well.

Independent Women’s Voice, an advocacy group fighting to protect women’s sports, also spoke out in opposition, insisting, “This is nothing to celebrate. This is a slap in the face to every single woman who competed against this biological male in a competition designed SPECIFICALLY for women.”

While it is true this competition was made for women, transgender-identifying contestants have been allowed to compete since 2012. Kollé may be the first to win this title, but he is not the first to have competed. Most notably, the 2018 Miss Universe contestant Angela Ponce, another man pretending to be a woman, was the first transgender to compete for that title. Another man competing for the Miss Universe title will be representing Puerto Rico in August. And compounding all of this, Anne Jakrajutatip — another man — now owns the Miss Universe organization.

Many are interpreting the results of the event as proof that men have won the war on women. Of course, it’s understandable why some would feel that way. There are many examples of how men identifying as women are dominating in women’s sports, women’s beauty pageants, and, in some horrific cases, women’s restrooms and locker rooms. It is easy to feel defeated when the LGBT agenda is being shoved into every aspect of life, including the lives of children. However, in light of the events surrounding the Miss Universe competition, there are two Bible verses, in particular, that ought to serve as encouragement in this fight. When hope seems lost, always turn to Scripture.

1.) Genesis 1:27 — “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”

This is encouraging because, as the inerrant word of God, we know it is an undeniable truth that God created humans as male and female. Christians know this cannot change, regardless of how hard the world tries. It is comforting to know that, despite the culture’s delusions, there are only two sexes — Scripture and biology agree.

It may be simple, but this truth is something Christians must keep at the forefront of the mind. When all hope seems lost in this transgender onslaught, we know God’s establishment of male and female in Genesis 1:27 conquers all opposition, because He is sovereign — and neither He nor His decrees can be overcome.

2.) John 16:33 — “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

Not only is the world unable to overcome the truth, but Jesus Christ has already overcome the world! This is a beautiful truth that brings immense comfort regardless of our circumstances. When Jesus proclaimed, “I have overcome the world,” this means the battle has been won, and that victory is secured.

The darkness of the transgender movement may be intimidating from our perspective, but Psalm 139:12 reads, “Even the darkness is not dark to You; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with You.” Moreover, John 1:5 states, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” And Isaiah 42:16 says, “I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.”

The point is, no circumstance, no matter how grim, is without hope. Christ is a beacon of light and hope for all generations to come. Therefore, in the name of Jesus Christ, we must also be beacons of light and hope for the generations now and those to come.

Men may be identifying as women and trying to cover true womanhood with their costumes of deceit, but we are not without hope. There are many churches, organizations, and groups fighting against this narrative and, ultimately, we have the Source of truth on our side. His team is unbeatable. He is leading us through this fight, and we must always remember:

No darkness is dark to Him.

We have eternal hope because He has secured eternal victory.

Republished from The Washington Stand.