Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, special people.

And this is a special day for one special person on the list—Andrew—our eldest son. So this day conjures up a lot of memories for me too…and the little string-bean island where we lived in the Marshall Islands 37 years ago.

I just received a call that is altering my day significantly…logs that we have negotiated at a local mill are ready for pick up. So other things now have to be adjusted to accommodate that priority.

I better get on with it. You are free to go too…after you join me in singing…”Happy Birthday to Andy. Happy Birthday to you!”

Blessings. Love, Dad/Ray.

In chapter 2 we encounter old man Simeon at the temple in Jerusalem who pronounces a special prophecy over baby Jesus. He said, “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against” (Luke 2:34). The central theme of this prophecy, in other words, is that this baby would grow to become a dividing line between the SAVED and the LOST. Now, in chapter 3, we have another prophecy concerning Jesus coming from a different instrument, “John the Baptist,” but the theme is basically the same. It foretells Jesus as performing a work of separation among men, as one would separate wheat from the chaff. John said, “I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn (Heaven), but he will burn (Hell) up the chaff with unquenchable fire” (Luke 3:16-17).

The important and valid point to make from this is that no one can be neutral in relation to Jesus Christ. The ultimate choice facing all men is BARN or BURN. Either one is for Him, seeking Him, trusting Him and SAVED by Him, or he is against Him, rejecting Him, indifferent to Him, ignoring Him, and LOST. Any attempt to cast a neutral vote constitutes a vote against Christ. If Jesus really is the One and Only hope for salvation from sin and its consequences (John 14:6), how can it be otherwise?

This is just another reminder concerning the importance of Christ. He’s not only the Axis of all human history, the Axis of all human existence, but also the Axis of all human destiny.