Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good day, special people.

Once we were decked out with our walk/jog attire, Becki joined me in the car. I drove up the hill to a point where we commenced a course up a rather steep hill. Once on Munson Road, we only met 2 vehicles in our entire 30-minute excursion. Of course we left Dandy home. He was bummed out, but he’ll get over it.

I need to get geared up and loaded up to head to a residence in Portland. My objective today is to do some serious yarding and arranging of the four big fat logs in preparation for milling them on Monday. It will call for some creative engineering. If I have time, I need to beginning milling on an order for the second time that I botched—failing to remember that the 1x10 cedar boards called for a live edge on one side of each piece. Phooey! I forgot and cut straight 4-sided boards.

Blessings. And remember—one of the best simple recipes for doing life—managing yourself according to what you know rather than according to what you feel—knowing that you are here to glorify God and give Him thanks.

Love, Dad/Ray.

I’ve read this passage many times in the past, but it has never jumped off the page and flashed with current-day relevant lighting as it did this morning—more so than last time. Please read it carefully. I think it offers profound clarity on how and why we behold so much bizarre stuff going on in our confused chaotic world, and clarifies the reasonableness of man’s unavoidable and inescapable accountability to his Maker. It confirms that seeking God has profound benefits. Rejecting God has profound consequences. If He is indeed the Sovereign Creator/Designer/Savior, how could things possibly be otherwise?!?!

Let’s review some fundamental facts (In this regard, I choose to not be ashamed of being a “fundamentalist.”) from an overview of the illuminating Word of God:

1. There are 2 kinds of people: WISE and FOOLISH, made so by the choices they make with their God-given intelligence and free will—ultimately equated with SAVED and LOST.


2. There are 2 kingdoms: The KINGDOM OF GOD, which is the Kingdom of LIGHT, and there is the KINGDOM OF SATAN, which is the kingdom of DARKNESS.


3. There are 2 basic goals represented by the 2 kingdoms: God wants you to be WISE, live in LIGHT, and promote LIGHT, while Satan wants you to be FOOLISH, live in DARKNESS, promote DARKNESS. If we can get our heads and hearts wrapped around these fundamental concepts so as to embrace them as TRUTH, I believe we can spare ourselves a lot of unnecessary struggle, confusion, and damage—as well as assist others around us in the same way.

Without spending much time with commentary, I’m going to insert three other scriptures that are very meaningful to me, but emphasize some key words with parenthetical comments.

“The path of the righteous (WISE—it’s wise to value righteousness) is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day (eternal HEAVEN). But the way of the wicked (FOOLISH) is like deep darkness, they do not know (because by their own choices they are UNENLIGHTENED and FOOLISH) what makes them stumble” (Proverbs 4:18-19).

“Those who are wise (WISE in choices) will shine like the brightness of the heavens (lots of LIGHT), and those who lead many to righteousness (WISDOM in choices), like the stars for ever and ever (that’s a very long time!—like eternal!)” (Daniel 12:3).

“But if (meaning that we don’t have to—it’s a choice) we walk in the light (LIGHT of God’s TRUTH), as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another (RELATIONSHIP—not just religious form), and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (God’s salvation plan achieved)” (1 John 1:7). Praise Him!