Insightful Musings on theScriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, special ones.

I haven’t really been outside yet…except to get a bit of wood from the woodshed while it was still dark.  But I think it’s a pretty decent day out there in the making.  We’re enjoying a run on some nice weather.  Yesterday was like a spring day…which will probably trigger some early (maybe premature) blooming again.

Before the day is out, we will have two little boys here again to spend a couple nights.  Schedules are being changed.

Have a great day.  Stay RIGHT.

Love, Dad/Ray

While perhaps the most basic of Biblical classifications is the one we addressed yesterday, the WISE and the FOOLISH, there are many other comparative descriptions in the teachings of Jesus to help us understand the nature and boundaries of the two kingdoms—that is, the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan.  It could be good to list out these comparisons graphically—maybe draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper—with BAD on the left and GOOD on the right.  Here are some comparisons to list (some in my own words): wide—narrow, many—few, bad fruit (or no fruit)—good fruit, destruction—life, hellish horror—heavenly happiness, disobedient—obedient, unfaithful—faithful.  Then in today’s reading we can note a few more: cursed—blessed, left—right, eternal punishment—eternal life, goats—sheep, unrighteous—righteous, and uncaring—caring.

There is one FACT that is clearly established in this parable that I’m willing to risk over-emphasizing: THERE ARE ONLY TWO KINGDOMS IN THE UNIVERSE WITH THEIR TWO CORRESPONDING DESTINIES according to Biblical revelation.  This story is one more example of Jesus giving a lot of attention to helping us get our hearts and minds wrapped around this fundamental FACT.

Therefore, it could be a very good exercise for us to not only begin a list like the one we described above, but to maintain that list and keep adding to it the various descriptions of the two kingdoms gleaned from our regular Bible reading. In so doing, we could provide ourselves with ongoing insight concerning the lines of demarcation separating them.  One of the practical benefits of such critical observation is that it assists us in our clarity of vision and choice-making as to which kingdom is dominant in any given situation and which kingdom we want to cling to and which we want to avoid.  There are simply too many who prove by their fruit to be blurred in their perspectives and loyalties.  DON’T let that happen to you!  This is important stuff.