Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear people.

I hope this finds you encouraged.  The reason I hope that is because I’m too aware that the counterpart to encouragement is depression.  And depression goes NOWHERE good.

I think Becki is going to join me for a walk/job again.  It’s wet out there, but I don’t think it’s too bad.  Care to join us?

Let's be sure to Proverbs 3:5 & 6 our day.

Love, Dad/Ray

When flawed people get together to decide a matter, can we expect their decision to be anything but flawed?  Of course not.  The Jewish leaders were flawed in their quest for power and their view of Jesus.  Pilate was too—except that he knew Jesus was innocent.  So the age-old cause-and-effect principle of life and destiny is confirmed again: THINK RIGHT—LIVE RIGHT (and make right decisions).  THINK WRONG—LIVE WRONG (and make wrong decisions).

It's interesting to note that, although Pilate knew that “he was getting nowhere” in his negotiations with this angry mob, he spinelessly backed off and allowed himself to be manipulated.  He knew it was unjust.  His wife knew did too—and warned him.  But he went ahead and took the easy way out and gave his official approval to have an innocent man executed.  It’s true—he really did get NOWHERE insofar as moral and eternal values are concerned.

Two simple lessons rise from this scene:

1. Be very cautious at cooperating with group anger—for whatever reason.  It can be a recipe for GETTING NOWHERE—at least nowhere good.  And to be sure, GETTING NOWHERE is GOING SOMEWHERE.  Tradition has it that Pilate, like Judas, could not seem to escape the ugliness of where his wrong thinking had led him, and ultimately opted for suicide as an antidote to his unbearable guilty conscience.


2. Be reminded that there is no neutral zone in regards to Jesus.  There are only two ways to vote: FOR or AGAINST.  Jesus Himself said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30).

If Jesus truly is “THE WAY” (John 14:6), then where is a person headed who rejects or neglects Him and His instructions?  NOWHERE—at least NOWHERE good.  I’m recalling a phrase from a song that says, “He is the Way, without Him there’s no going.”