Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear people.

Wow! It looks like there’s only about 26 minutes left of the morning.

Last night Becki and I attended the showing of a documentary film spearheaded by Kirk Cameron. While I certainly want to do what I reasonably can to support and uphold the historical foundations of America, my personal Biblical perspective does not allow me to fully embrace every detail of the presentation. Since when is national peace, freedom, liberty, and prosperity a Biblical priority? Consider Joseph, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, Paul, the Apostle John, etc. The beautiful fact is that personal faith transcends virtually everything of the physical environment…and individual faith and freedom form the only possible basis for national faith and freedom.

Whew! I almost deleted this last little paragraph as I know I’m wandering into such controversial space. I guess I’ll just leave it…even though I could get carried away with a lot more clarification. I just don’t have time to expound at present. Why don’t you do it for me. Thanks.

Have a great day. And keep your faith belt securely fastened. Storms are coming. And I don’t really think it matters how much you pray they won’t.

Blessings.  Love, Dad/Ray.

Remember who is writing this account of the ship in the storm. It’s Luke. He was a great writer and wonderful loyal companion to Paul. Nevertheless, he was not a seaman and could very well have been one given to sea sickness. This certainly sounds like a situation that would produce that ailment. I know something about sea sickness, too. I think it’s one of the most terrible forms of sickness on the planet insofar as how it makes you feel. I’ve lain on the deck of more than one small ship, not caring about much of anything but ending the misery. I can imagine poor Luke laying down on the deck of that ship, all green and thoroughly miserable, and maybe even wishing that the ship would hurry up and break apart so they could get the ordeal over with. He says, “When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved.”

I’m reminded once again of that saying, “Man’s extremities are God’s opportunities.” It would appear that God indeed takes this as an opportunity to show Himself mighty to save. Also, He has an indestructible plan in motion that Paul “must stand trial before Caesar” (v. 24). Amidst this horrible crisis the Lord graciously intervenes with a message of courage by sending His angel to Paul, assuring him that all would go well, except for the ship.

Any experienced believer can recall passages of life that were very much like a raging hopeless storm from which there seemed to be no natural escape. Sometimes we reach the end of our strength, endurance, and wisdom to resolve the crisis, giving up all natural hope of being saved. That’s when true faith and hope are tremendously valuable assets.

I like things simple. And I’m thoroughly grateful for the encouragement of God’s Word that makes life for the believer a simple WIN-WIN situation. No matter what you face in this stormy physical world, there are really only two physical options: (1) Either you’re going to live, or (2) you’re going to die. From the Biblical perspective, both options are winners and wonderfully positive. Praise God for the resources of a faith that transcends it all. Paul puts it this way in Philippians 1:21: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

To what degree can you honestly say “AMEN” to this view? I judge that this is a pretty important quality of faith. This is more important than an American Express card or a spare tire or a life insurance policy.