Insightful Musings on the Scripturesby
Ray Sparre, NU class of '67
Ray has a wealth of experience as a Husband, Father, Pastor, Missionary, and student of the Word. He believes and practices his faith where the rubber meets the road. You'll find his writings to be practical, insightful, and grounded in a truly Christ-centered world view.
Below are links to a printable daily Bible reading guide which Ray has followed, and an archive of all his daily devotional writings for 2010 and 2011.
| Daily Reading Guide | 2011 Devotion Archives | 2010 Devotion Archives |
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15 March 2011
Proverbs 15
Focus: “Death and destruction lie open before the LORD—how much more the hearts of men!” Proverbs 15:11.
I’ve never died before—so I can’t speak with a lot of authority on the subject. All I know is that there is nothing more certain in life than DEATH. Have you noticed that with all man’s schemes, strategies, theories, and technologies down through history, attempting to avoid this inevitability, the death rate remains at 100%—or one in one? So does this undeniable fact influence men to think carefully and plan wisely for the uncertainties that follow this certain event? Sadly, only some—only a FEW.
One of the saddest disclosures of the Bible, in my estimation, is Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:13-14: “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” I hope you will ponder the ratio presented here in terms of the MANY and the FEW. Go ahead and be overwhelmed by it. The weight of this reality should underscore in us the urgent importance of the Gospel that presents Christ as that SMALL NARROW GATE. Isn’t this a good place to repeat Jesus’ familiar words in John 14:6? “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Wow! As familiar as those words are, they remain very important to ponder.
In spite of there being a blurred mystique surrounding the whole matter of death, I am confident that our FOCUS VERSE tells it right—that God, the Sovereign Maker, has no such wonder, uncertainty, or anxiety. It’s all very OPEN and clear to Him. Therefore, it makes a huge amount of sense to me to seek and maintain close relationship with Him. I’m still trying to figure out why it makes so little sense (or no sense) to others.
Although God KNOWS everything there is to know about LIFE, DEATH, and everything beyond, there is an abundance of Biblical evidence that He shares in the SADNESS over the deplorable ratio between the MANY and the FEW—over the FEW that find LIFE. Do you?
“We need to be reminded that there is nothing morbid about honestly confronting the thought of life’s end and preparing for it so that we may go gracefully and peacefully. The fact is, we cannot truly face life until we have learned to face the fact that it will be taken away from us.” - Billy Graham