Before sitting down to write this column, I arranged five items on my desk: a Bible, a concordance, my laptop computer, a cup of coffee and a cookie.  Once settled into a chair, I prayed that the Holy Spirit would guide me to choose the Scriptures and the words He wanted me to use.

Immediately afterward, I went right to work—on the cookie and the coffee.  As I did, a line in the middle of the cover of the concordance caught my eye: “Words of Christ highlighted.”  Was this just chance, I wondered or the answer to my prayer for guidance?  I angled the still-closed Bible, so that I could read the words that I knew I would find on the spine: “Red Letter Edition.”  What are these red letters?  What is their significance?

Some Bibles with this feature say simply, “Words of Christ in Red.”  In red…red. Why in red?  Why not blue or green or purple?  What things are red?

Blood is red.  Flames are red.  The ink that makes losses stand out on financial statements is red.  Stop signs are red…Red is the universal symbol of danger and warning.  In the fashion industry, it’s the unanimous choice for getting attention.  Red is used the world over when we want to stop people, grab people, force them to focus.  That’s why it’s “Words of Christ in Red.”

But why His words and His alone? Was it because the end of His life on earth was so bloody?  Eyewitnesses said He was slapped and punched. Chunks of His beard were ripped out.  His back was laid open with a whip.  Thorns were twisted into a crown and jammed down on His brow, as a joke.  He was whacked on the head again and again with a soldier’s nightstick.  He was nailed to a rough wooden cross, with long spikes through His hands and feet…Then, when His body was dead, He was speared in the chest with a Roman lance. Blood everywhere.  Is that why the Words of Christ are in red—because He died a Martyr in His own cause?

That can’t be right. The Bible explains that He was “wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace [with God] was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” [Emphasis added]  It was our cause in which He gave His life…He was martyred for us, for you and for me and for anyone who ever lived or ever would live on the earth.

“The Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all…he is brought like a [sacrificial] lamb to the slaughter…cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people,” God says, “was he stricken.  And he made his grave with the wicked…he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.  Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief…he hath poured out His soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.”

According to the Scriptures, the blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin (I John 1:7). Without His blood, there is no redemption.  Without His blood, there is no hope.  His words are special, because HE is special.  And none more so—He is the very Son of God, born by the will of God, not the will of man; conceived by the Power of God, not by the act of a man.  By that same will of the Father, He suffered for lost humanity and, of His OWN free will, He died to save it.  He is the Son from heaven and the Savior of earth.  Words of Christ highlighted.  Words of Christ in red.

I just quoted prophecies about Him, from the 53^rdchapter of Isaiah—amazing prophecies of the martyrdom of a Messiah as yet unborn.  Ten chapters later, red is once again the dominant color.  In Isaiah 63, are prophecies of the resurrected Messiah’s return in judgment…and He sees red.

Although the prophet notes that Christ is “glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength,” there is something shocking about His splendid appearance—so shocking, in fact, that Isaiah is forced to ask, “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?”

Jesus replies, “I have trodden the winepress alone…for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.”

Redemption for all who trust in Christ for the forgiveness of their sins.  For them, He is “mighty to save.”  For those who reject His authority and spurn His salvation, He is coming again as Judge. He will be vindicated and avenged.  So, it is “Words of Christ highlighted”—words of danger and warning—“Words of Christ in red.”

What motivates the millions who follow in His steps, the heroes and martyrs of the Christian faith, today?  They have learned and truly believe those words in red:

• “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” (John 15:18)  “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” (John 15:20b)
• “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” (Matthew 10:37)
• “…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)  “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.”(Matthew 10:38)
• “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.” (Mark 8:35)
• “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (I John 2:15)  “…know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)

Those persecuted for their faith in Christ today accept the Apostle Paul’s strange pronouncement to the believers at Philippi: “For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” (Philippians 1:29)  “To you it is given…” This is official language typically reserved for unusual favors or for granting the biggest of wishes.  Suffering for Christ is a privilege, the highest of honors.

The greatness of this honor has been recognized by the Church since the earliest days.  In the Book of Acts for example, we’re told that the leaders of Israel called the apostles in and had them whipped.  Then, they ordered them to quit speaking in Jesus’ Name, or face something worse.  “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.  And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.”  (Acts 5:41-42)

Whoa.  “That is not natural,” you say.  And you are right.  It’s supernatural.  This attitude comes only by the power of God. Rejoicing in suffering is the polar opposite of grudging obedience.  The difference between rejoicing in suffering and the grim and fearful determination to endure it is so stark that it startles onlookers and unnerves the persecutors.  It shakes them up and forces the most hardened to ask, “How can this be?  What makes this possible?”

In that moment of true curiosity, in that instant of deep inner compulsion to know the answer, to find some explanation, lies the best hope of reaching the lost.  How can anyone rejoice even while suffering?  How can anyone consider it a privilege to suffer for the sake of others?  Only one solution fits, but one reply is possible: the enabler and all-time role model is Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God.

The Apostle Peter wrote: “But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” (I Peter 3:14-15)

Is Christ’s every word in red for you?  Or is some of it in disappearing ink?  Can “Words of Christ in Red” be found written on your spine?  In your own heart, set Christ apart from all others and all else.  Set Him apart as LORD.

Set Christ apart as Lord and you will not fear to share your faith.  Set Christ apart as Lord and you will not fear suffering for His sake.  You will count it a blessing, a privilege—His disgrace your badge of honor.  And you will go on your way rejoicing, that He has considered you worthy!

Set Christ apart as Lord and you will not hesitate to follow where He leads.  Set Christ apart as Lord and you will forgive as He forgives.  When you are mistreated, you will bless, instead of curse.  You will pray for your persecutors, not plot your revenge.  Set Christ apart as Lord, and you will love, instead of hate.  You will long for all men everywhere, to know Him now, as Savior—so they will not have to meet Him later, as Judge.  If the words of Christ are in red for you, then you will heed His command to ‘go’ and you will need no guarantee that you will come back.

We haven’t much time.  I know it and in your heart, you know it, too.  For the uncommitted, this is the moment to go “all in” for Christ. The open door of God’s mercy and patience is due to close and His justice and holiness will assume control. It will happen suddenly and without further warning. So, if you are coming, come now.  Accept the pardon Jesus purchased for you with His own precious blood. Don’t leave it unclaimed in His outstretched hand and regret it for all eternity.

For the Christian, this is the moment to go “all out” for Jesus! Whatever you put off doing for Christ in these last moments, will never be done (at least, by you).  It will not happen.  Don’t fool yourself.  If it matters, do it now.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you.  Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.
• Trust His promise to save you and give you a new spiritual birth and a new nature (thoughts, desires, priorities, hopes, dreams and character).

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)
• “Verily, verily, I say unto you; He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life; and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.”  (John 5:24)
• “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing, ye might have life through his name.”  (John 20:31) 
• “These things I have written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  (I John 5:13)