The Scarlet Rope of Calvary

05.26.09

J.A. Matteson

"Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying ‘Where is the promise of His coming?....’” 2 Peter 3:3-4

Spring rains bring forth a vibrant pallet of color to delight the eyes; hot dry days of summer lead multitudes to seek refuge alongside cool bodies of water; leaves that were green turn to amber, gently falling to the ground, dancing on the breeze of an autumn day; biting cold and snow of winter make the warm glow of a fireside chat with a cup of tea enticing. To the natural mind the rhythm of nature appears as an infinite loop of seasonal cycles, meandering rivers of delightful memories past tend to lull the unregenerate soul into a state of tranquility.

It is the condition of the natural mind to suppress the truth of divine revelation, to defy the self-evident design of the natural order, to suppress a fear of God by denying His existence, professing to be wise while in reality existing perilously close to divine retribution at the hands of Him whose wrath burns as a consuming fire. Such was the generation of Noah, mockers sneered, laughed, joked, and carried on in jolly merriment, eating and drinking to intoxication, frolicking about without care, until the door of the arc closed. At that moment utter destruction came upon them instantly, and there was no hiding place, no escape, “Those that entered, male and female of all flesh, entered as God had commanded him; and the LORD closed it behind him. Then the flood came….” (Gen. 7:16-17).

Redemptive history is linear and not cyclical as the ordered seasons. Providence is guiding human events to their climatic end according to the good pleasure of His will. The Scripture cannot be broken and while heaven and earth will pass away the Word of our God stands forever (Isa. 40:8). What has been was ordained and that which is to come is sure and unalterable, divine Providence will see to that. Striving in vain the fool convinces himself that he can stay the hand of the Lord from bringing to pass that which has been revealed in Scripture.

Beautiful is the Word of God for in it the simple is made wise and the wise a fool. In Jesus Christ the door of the arc remains open, today is the day of salvation, but the hour is fast approaching when the directive will be given by the Father and the trumpet blast will sound forth and the fury of the Lion of the tribe of Judah will be seen by all coming in the clouds will indescribable power and glory, and at that time the door of the arc will close and those who mocked will tremble in horror while vainly trying conceal themselves from His wrath, “Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders and the rich and the strong and every slave and free man hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb’” (Rev. 6:15-16).

Beloved, the last days of redemptive history began with the incarnation of the Son of God, “…in these last days has spoken to us in His Son….” (Heb. 1:2), and His coming is immanent. Today, as in the days of Noah, mockers abound, sneering, laughing, joking, and carrying on in jolly merriment, eating and drinking to intoxication, frolicking about without care, but the door will soon be shut and their opportunity for salvation past. Let not the man of God look upon the lost with contempt; but rather, let him with empathy pity his neighbors blind deluded estate and the fate that surly awaits him, pleading with him to enter the arc of salvation found in the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, that he might escape the swift currents of the coming flood of the wrath of the Lamb of God.

Let it not be said of the saints of God that those outside the arc were not warned, that they were not shown the door, that they were not privy to the narrow way, that they were not thrown the scarlet rope of Calvary. The Lord our God warned that His coming would be as a thief in the night, catching many unaware. May the bride of Christ trim her lamp for her redemption is nigh, her Prince is quickly approaching; indeed, He stands at the door.

Copyright 2009 Immutable Word Ministries ("...the word of our God stands forever." Isaiah 40:8)