RED! 2/13/11

RED was my mother-in-laws favorite color! I don’t remember her
wearing much red but we have some drinking glasses with red roses on them that her husband had given her, early on in their marriage. Obviously these glasses are very old and sit on a shelf! I remember the preacher of my youth preaching that it was better to be a Christian facing life, than “better red than dead!” This motto meant, becoming a communist was better than dying for the cause of freedom. This was one of the famous lines of the 50's!

JIM AND I wear red on Fridays to pay homage to all the America soldiers; dead, alive, or actively serving our country at home and abroad. It’s a little thing we do but we do it to pay honor! Tomorrow is Valentines day! We give out hearts to our sweethearts and kids and whomever we want and usually they are red. Oh, I have seen various other colored hearts but for the most part they are red!

I HAVE NEVER visited a ‘red light’ district but I have read and heard about them! A very old profession indeed! We have red lights along our streets to grab our attention and they say; stop! On occasion they say; stop then go! I have heard it said that Insurance on a red car is much higher than on any other color. Now why should that be? Even a bull in the ring charges after the red cape, or so we are told.

WHEN your finances are in the red it is as though a red light is flashing. You are in financial trouble! When I was a young adult, I had a sort of red dress and a man where I worked said; "Ah red! That’s enough to make a man forget the Ten Commandments!" Red apparently is a signal not only for anger; financial situations or to bring you to a stop; it is also a signal for indiscretions, or it should be!

WHEN WE BLEED, our blood runs red! When we have an open wound or an inflamed sore it usually is red. We are God’s creation and all humans have red blood. Not blue as you read in books; that merely indicates your royalty. Let’s face it, we all have red blood no matter what your ethnic background may be. According to Genesis we all came from Adam and Eve who were the first and therefore we have a physical body just like theirs.

“FOR THIS is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” Matthew 26:28 As Christ hung on the cross with his hands and feet nailed to the posts and when the sword pierced His side, His blood flowed freely for you and me. His blood was red, the color of sin; if you are an artist. His heart carried the red blood through it, just like yours and mine. And He suffered shame, humiliation and degradation because of His love for the Father and the Father’s love for us.

“WHOM God has set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.” Romans 3:25 In other words; Jesus took our place on the cross and through our belief and faith in His shed blood we can be forgiven. WOW! What a Savior; What a God!

REPENTANCE and baptism are not a choice, they are commandments. When we think we can substitute it for a prayer only of belief, let me remind you that Satan believes also and He was condemned to the eternal lake of fire. Don’t allow yourself to be short changed through mans short cuts. Read the scriptures for yourself and forget man’s interpretations. “Repent and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sin and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38

RED is a beautiful color! However, I love Christ more! Fear should not blind us and cause us to see red. Instead, turn your eyes upon Jesus and see only Him! By Jane Ann Crenshaw 2/11/11