Insightful Musings on theScriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Dear special ones.
At our wedding just over 44 years ago, I modified an old song and I sang the first line to Becki, “Ah, sweet mystery of life, at last I’ve found thee.” Then Becki sang back to me, “Yes, in love we’ve found the secret of it all.” With a day like this one, we are tempted to wonder if we missed something big along the way. Just kidding. But it hasn’t been a very fun day. Becki was just rebounding somewhat from her bout with gastric explosions, two temperamental gritchy little kids are all over the place, then my worst fear…this nasty virus whatever-it-is decides to focus its vehemence on me! I started feeling like “30 cents with the 3 rubbed out,” as an old friend used to say. To add intensity to the setting, Thano comes in and reports the bug is wiping him out too. Whew!
Such is life. And in such a life, trusting Him is still the best course. After all, what are our options if we don’t?
Love, Dad/Ray
17 January
Passage: Matthew 12:22-50
Focus: “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30.
If it is true that Jesus is Who He claimed to be, and Who the scriptures describe Him to be, then this is a sound and valid statement. As I think further about the matter, it can really be no other way. If He truly is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” then anyone who rejects or opposes Him can only be on the wrong road, consumed with error, and bound for consequences they won’t like and didn’t know they were choosing—the kind of death Romans 6:23 talks about.
This terrible position not only causes one to be pitted against Jesus (God’s Kingdom), but also makes one to unwittingly partner with Satan and his demons. I know I tend to be repetitious, but I believe this is very critical to a Biblical worldview. So let me also state it this way: If there are only two kingdoms (i.e., the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan), and if Jesus is the Supreme Representative of the Kingdom of God, then anyone who opposes or rejects Him automatically (by default) places himself within the territory of the enemy kingdom and is made subject to its controls and influences. That’s why Jesus can justly be so blunt as to say to His aggressive opponents, “You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks” (v. 34).
I want to encourage you to join me in not only personally seeking His Kingdom rule, but in nurturing personal relationship with Him. Jesus equates that mindset with becoming a close family member. “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (v. 50).
"The tragedy with man is that
he dies inside while he is still alive"