Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good day, dear ones.

Between the two of us, we picked just over 4 pounds of blackberries on our walk/jog return this morning…in roughly 20 minutes. Nice berries. I used our remaining fruit salad, some of the fresh berries, and some farm fresh cream to make up a smoothie that goes down pretty smooth.

I wish you could have heard me play a non-accompanied trumpet solo rendition of “How Great Thou Art”—rivaling the styling of Phil Driscoll. I wish there was some way to record dreams. That’s actually where I performed it. And that’s where it’s recorded—in my illusive memory. But it was sweet—even though I haven’t actually even touched that trumpet for years. It was so real that I even remember the fingering I used in the key of C. No—I haven’t been doing drugs

I’m about to take off in the pick up with the track hoe in tow to drop it off at a repair shop. The thumb joint is about to break and needs repair. Then I’ll try to finish up a sawmill project. I just wish I could go out and pull in some tuna at the coast. I think they’re popping now.

Anyway, blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Do you happen to have a Roth IRA account? Do you know you have, or have had, a WRATH IRA account? If you pronounce “wrath” like many English speakers in the world, it sounds like “Roth.” A Roth IRA (Investment Retirement Account) is a good thing to have and keep active as it holds the promise of paying very good benefits as the account matures with interest over time. But you don’t want to have an active WRATH IRA (I Remain Arrogant) account, even though everyone has inherited one—but this one urgently needs to be cancelled by the blood of “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). That account needs to be closed forever! And Christ’s sacrifice joined with REPENTANCE is the ONLY means of cancellation.

We normally don’t think of inherited sin in these terms. But that’s exactly how Paul is presenting the matter here. We normally don’t equate sin with God’s wrath and anger. But that’s exactly what it is. That’s right!—the Sovereign God is capable of Sovereign Anger! And all mankind is painted into the same corner—there is no escaping this absolute fact—“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Warning: Let’s not be snookered by the over-emphasis of many on God’s absolute grace and “unconditional love.” So let’s balance it out by reviewing verses 5 through 11. It’s just too important to pass over casually:

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up (as with an investment account) wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life (That’s incredibly good interest!). But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger (With compounded interest). There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.”