The Red Line On the Road

I wasn’t quite sure about what I thought I saw.
I looked further down the road.
Snow was on both sides of me as I walked.
The street had been plowed but was sprinkled with rock salt.

It was the color I saw first.
The bright color was a contrast against the white snow.
The red I saw when I was down the road was even redder as I got closer.
There was a line of red across the street.

I followed the line with my eyes.
The red line went diagonally from one side of the street to the other.
I followed the red line beyond the street itself.
The red line went into the woods.

Or the red line came from the woods.
I was trying to discern the direction.
The red line was on the snow across the street.
The red line went into the woods on the other side of the street.

The red line was blood.
I could see animal footprints in the snow.
I had no idea what kind of animal made the prints.
It was obvious; however that something was killed and bought into the woods to eat later.

I saw the tracks.
I followed the path with my eyes.
An animal was killed.
Another animal had a feast.

I would have missed the red line had the snow been gone.
I would never have seen the path of the kill.
I would never have seen the footprints.
I would never have seen the blood.

I thought of the mysterious woods.
I thought of all they contain.
I thought of the many animals who make their home there.
I thought of the food chain that is happening all around me.

Had it not been for the snow, I would have missed it.
An imprint was left there for a discerning eye to see.
Seen but not understood.
Seen but no conclusion.

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8)

We are that animal that is preyed upon in the woods.
We have an enemy who seeks to steal, kill, and destroy.
Our enemy crouches and waits until an opportune time.
Then he pounces; he tears apart, and he carries us away.

But God.

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. (Psalm 91:4)

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. (Psalm 32:7)

God is not looking for someone to devour.
Rather God is watching over those who are His.
There is no crouching.
There is no waiting.

There is just protection.
There is security.
There is peace.
There is safety from the storm.

I thought of the blood line that went across the street.
I thought of the blood line that goes all through the Bible.
From the first Gospel preached in the Garden to the final trumpet blast the blood line is there.
There is a line of blood that flowed from the hill of Calvary.

That blood line is not from a predator.
That blood line is not because we are the food upon which the enemy feasts.
That blood line is our salvation.
Each drop of blood that fell from our Lord Jesus is part of our cleansing.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
(Psalm 51: 7)

Whiter than the snow that was on both sides of me.
Washed clean because of the blood.
The blood line that is the story of our redemption.
The blood line that saves and guarantees us a seat at the Feast.

The Feast that is not us.
The Feast that is all because of Him.
The blood line points us in the right direction.
The blood line leads us Home.