Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, special ones.

The little boys are here again. We’ve had to keep Bimbo tied up, out of the house, and away from the kids…until Thano could give him a bath this morning. He had to find some kind of rotten corruption somewhere yesterday and rolled in it…and stunk to low h…anyway, it was bad! I asked Becki this morning if she had any idea why God would imbed that attraction into canine psychology…so as to make them so attracted to putrid stench? What purpose could that possibly serve? All our other dogs have been of the same warped mindset. For them, this kind of stink is like pleasant perfume or expensive calogne. Of course, I’ve wondered why God would allow human psychology to be embedded with some attractions too. We will understand it better by and by.

I need to make tracks. Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Like a marathon runner approaching the finish line, straining with every ounce of his remaining strength, Job presents his final sprint of self-defense before he reaches his limit and crosses the line, then crumples in total exhaustion—but still true to his claim of integrity and innocence. The finish line crossing is announced—“The words of Job are ended” (31:40). Whew!

A concept that Job puts forth in the FOCUS VERSE has had influence on me—touching on how I do Bible teaching and why I like to use visual aids. Support for this idea was presented from some educational research that I heard about years ago—reporting that about 86% of all learning comes through the medium of seeing—through visual images. Job acknowledges that thinking (one’s heart) is profoundly affected by what is seen (the eyes)—“...if my heart has been led by my eyes.” If this is a valid principle of life, it only stands to reason that it can go both ways. That is, graphics and visual images can be used both for evil and for good. Without a doubt, modern techology has allowed the development of the most incredible eye-attracting and heart-arresting training tools in all of human history—printing, books, magazines, TV, movies, video games, and internet. The list could go on.

Here is an ancient character in the person of Job who understood this principle and implemented a standard for proper management. If this was important for Job within the context of very limited technology, how much more important is it for us today with our flood of visual technology?! Way back then he declared, “I made a covenant with my eyes” (31:1). Job adds to this a very common point of failure—“…not to look lustfully at a girl.” I’ve never been a woman before. But I do know that for us men, this remains a delicate balancing act—the fine line between the appropriate appreciation and attraction to the female form, and demeaning perversity of lust. In this regard, the pornography industry is extremely big in our world today—a negative exploitation of this principle—tantalizing the eyes and capturing hearts. Of course, these big business strategists understand that if one’s heart can be captured, so can one’s money.

David later affirms, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have a good understanding.” (Psalm 111:10). Without a healthy respect for God and His purposes, man has no real basis for righteousness—no sound compass for navigation. Indeed, if there is no God and accountability to Him, everything is permissible. But what does the guiding and restraining “fear of the LORD” look like? I think Job offers a pretty sound answer: “For I dreaded destruction from God, and for fear of his splendor I could not do such things” (31:23).

Let’s draw a line here and sing again the little children’s Sunday School chorus—“Be careful little eyes what you see! Be careful little eyes what you see! There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love. So be careful little eye’s what you see.” It’s good for big kids too.