Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings on a gorgeous summer-like morning, dear ones.

Walk/jog—done. Breakfast—done. Next on the agenda—shower. Then it’s off and running. One sad matter to resolve is locating a mower deck belt that broke last evening as I was just beginning to attack some of our grass jungle. Thano’s truck repairs are still not resolved either. The attempt to replace the fuel pump was not straight-forward. Other problems needing solutions arose. I guess that’s a commentary on life.

In order to make it successfully through this segment of life called TODAY, I think all we really need to do is maintain a HAG—and let things fall where they will. Know what I mean?

Love, Dad/Ray.

It had to be remarkable indeed to behold Jesus performing miraculous healings of those who were obviously sick and physically impaired. It was particularly dramatic to see this one paralyzed guy lowered into the crowded room by his friends from a hole they made in the roof. That act of urgency and faith was wonderfully rewarded and the paralyzed guy went home walking on his own strong legs. It is to be expected that the people would have been “filled with awe and said, ‘we have seen remarkable things today.’”

However, let’s be reminded that just seeing remarkable things does not necessarily equal personal salvation. Observing the power of God does not necessarily align one with God. Seeing is not necessarily believing. In fact, just because one sees, does not ensure that one sees straight or correctly. I am sure that there were present on this occasion those discerning souls who recognized Jesus’ forgiveness of sins and His healing power as profound evidences of his divinity and Messiahship. But there were others who judged what they saw and heard as acts of blasphemy. Same event, different conclusions.

It all goes together to confirm in my mind a basic thesis that I have held for a long time—a concept that I have not yet found any substantial evidence against: THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGULAR INGREDIENT IN YOUR LIFE AND MINE IS A HEART AFTER GOD—a heart that sincerely seeks to know God, to love Him, to please Him, and to serve Him—a heart that is willing to lay aside self-righteousness and preconceived ideas in quest of that high objective. With that heart condition, everything one needs will fall into place according to God’s sovereign grace and provision (Mtt. 6:33). But without it, all the miracles, all the healings, all the baptisms, all the communions, all the confessions, all the great meetings, all the wonderful sermons, all the impressive memories, all the conviction, all the promises, all the dedications, and all the super-charged altar experiences don’t really amount to a hill of beans.