From cover to cover, the Bible is about two main topics—the presence of God and the lengths to which He will go to redeem His creation. These two themes are woven together throughout the whole of Scripture. They are like a cord of brilliant gold and crimson red. Gold signifying the presence of God. Crimson red represents the shedding of blood which brings redemption. The cord is tightly woven and cannot be broken. At times, it may be difficult to discern as a part of the story. Yet, if you dig down just a bit and have a good think, you will discover its presence.
Of course, the story begins as every good story, at the beginning. Scripture is no different. “In the beginning, God. . .” (Genesis 1:1). God is the central character. As our second doctrine proclaims, He is “. . . infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship” (Schedule 1 of the Salvation Army Act 1980). The Apostle John echoes this foundational truth in the prologue of his Gospel, tying the two Testaments and thousands of years of history together. John writes,
In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. 2 He was [continually existing] in the beginning [co-eternally] with God. 3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. 4 In Him was life [and the power to bestow life], and the life was the Light of men. (John 1: 1 – 4, AMP)
Every good story also has a point of tension: a crisis, a problem, an issue that threatens to unravel any theme of goodness, turning and twisting the plot. Out of wholeness comes brokenness. Brokenness cries out in shame and anguish for restoration. At the point of humankind’s greatest need, God is not silent, nor is He absent. God remains present even though our first parents, Adam and Eve, blatantly disobeyed the single prohibition given to them. (See Genesis 3.)
Strands of crimson red become intwined with the brilliant gold. To bring redemption, blood is shed. Not Adam and Eve’s blood, but the blood of animals so that their nakedness could be covered. The innocent pays the price of atonement for the guilty through the shedding of their blood. Hebrews 9:22 reminds us, “In fact under the Law almost everything is cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness [neither release from sin and its guilt, nor cancellation of the merited punishment]” (AMP).
A promise of ongoing hope is also whispered by God in the garden. If you are not careful, you will miss it. The language is poetic and symbolic. Its fulfillment is not immediate but will take place much later in history. The serpent (the evil one) is cursed, and his eventual and certain downfall is predicted. God tells the serpent, “And I will put enmity (open hostility) Between you and the woman, And between your seed (offspring) and her Seed; He shall [fatally] bruise your head, And you shall [only] bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15).
Scholars of the Old Testament call this the protevangelium, the first announcement of the Gospel. The Seed of the woman is Christ, who in His crucifixion, death, and resurrection delivers a fatal blow to Satan. From the beginning, Satan is judged as a defeated foe, yet valiantly and without mercy keeps nipping at the heels of humankind.
As the Bible continues the telling of sacred history, the language of redemption crystalizes in the making of sacred covenant. A greater (God Himself) makes promises (sacred, binding covenant) with a lesser (humankind) to eternally cement and knit together God’s ongoing intention to have restored and bountiful relationship with His creation. By accepting covenant, human beings promise to be faithful to follow the stipulations made by their obedience. However, just as Adam and Eve could not obey a single command over time, a whole nation of people, Israel, could not keep their side of the covenant, either. And, outside of the shed blood of Christ, neither can we!
Two strands—brilliant gold and crimson red entwine the pages of both Old and New Testaments. God is still in the process of fulfilling sacred covenant in our lives today. The plan of redemption has been long established and set. Christ calls us to accept His redemption and to obediently walk with Him in holy relationship.
How are you endeavoring to live your life? Are you living inside or outside of covenant relationship with God? Moment by moment we decide. Moment by moment we choose. Make your choice.
SELAH. Pause for a while and think about these things.
Major Cherri Hobbins
Regional Pastoral Care Officer
(Ministry Focus to Single Officers)
