The Scarlet Cord

The other day my youngest daughter gleefully bounced into the room where I was occupied with my morning Bible study. Coming to the side of my chair she noticed the collection of books sprawled on my lap and asked for me to read her a story. Picking up a large print edition of the Old Testament, I opened to the natural folding and began to read her the narrative of Joshua at Jericho. Moving through the tale we reached the moment where Rahab shows kindness to Israel’s spies. How devastatingly understated the symbol of the red rope attached to the window keenly reflects our sinner’s plight. This heroic character from antiquity devised the scheme of the scarlet cord for her rescue and salvation. I couldn’t help but recognize that we too must post a sign for God’s mercy. When the consequences of sin come crashing down, we desperately need the crimson rope of repentance securely tied around the window of our hearts if we desire deliverance.  

Few characters in the scriptures lay claim to Christ’s family tree. Such a one was Rahab the Philistine prostitute. In the second chapter of the book of Joshua, we learn of her heroism and declaration of rightly recognizing God’s purpose and plan. She announced with conviction, “I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.” Humbly requesting her life and that of her entire family when the Lord demolished the city, Rehab echoed the plea of all sinners throughout the ages. 

“Before the men lay down, she came up to them on the roof and said to the men, ‘I know that the Lord has given you the land, and that the fear of you has fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land melt away before you.'”

Joshua 2:8-9 (ESV)

As the world around us continues to spiral into hell, the walls surrounding our Christian institutions are rapidly crumbling. The supreme cause, in no small part, remains our modern interpretation of discipleship. Each of us, to one degree or another, has prostituted ourselves to the secular world. Whether through the proliferation of unholy entertainment, the oversimplification of the Gospel call or slothful Christianity that so easily pervades our culture. The judgment of God presses down, and He has sent His spies to see who will defend His cause. It makes little difference where we perceive our allegiance. What matters in the end is will we stick our necks out for the gospel. There can be no doubt this world is doomed. It’s just a matter of time before it all comes crashing in. 

The walls surrounding Jericho were quite magnificent, especially considering the age they were constructed. Today you can still visit the actual sight of Joshua’s victory and not only observe the devastation of collapse but also the complete destruction by fire when the town was burned to the ground. I believe the parallel remains true of our present state. We often so expertly build fortresses around our hearts to protect against our sin being exposed that we begin to falsely assume we are safe and secure. However, Christ in His loving kindness surrounds our hearts and prods to see if we will take Him in. The stones must come down and only the crimson blood of Jesus will save us. Let us respond as Rahab and recognize when the jig is up. Let us securely tie a scarlet cord around our hearts so that when the trumpets sound, we too may be spared and declare divine kinship with Christ.  

Stone on stone my house was built
Within the walls of city high
Cover of night could not hide my guilt
I live as one destined to die

Pleasure by trade and loved by none
I covered the enemy sleuth
The tyrant monarch demanded the sum
I withheld from him the truth

Now the holy hoard will take it down
This fortress of lust and greed
The gates to crumble when trumpet sound
I pray dear friends remember me

The God of you demands my blood
Justice could do the same
Spare me from this awful flood
Remove from me my shame

To this you swear by all that’s just
A mercy plea undeserved word
Your life to forfeit should mine be lost
Tied around this scarlet cord