Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Hello, special ones.
Yup…the day has nearly faded into the sunset. 8:14pm at present. I’m feeling like it’s about midnight. It’s been a full day.
My list is getting kind of big and scary for tomorrow too. I still hope I can get a little garden set up before I hit the bed tomorrow night.
Have a good night.
Love, Dad/Ray
Sanctified? Holy? Aren’t those kind of obsolete words and unreachable ideals in our advanced world of science and sophistication? The fact of the matter is that there is nothing very advanced in our modern world insofar as spiritual health and morality are concerned. The same old sin nature that has messed up human lives in the historical past still reigns today—very much alive and well. Please agree with this thesis: Sanctification and holiness are not only achievable through Christ in this modern world, they are essential.
Think of it—there was a time when our European and American mainline colleges and universities actually proclaimed Biblical truth—that man, by nature is a hopeless sinner and Christ is a Mighty Savior. But that very sin nature has prevailed within those institutions, and arrogantly exploited education so as to render the Gospel of Christ as something repulsive and absurd—on a par with fiction or mythology. Those caught up in this secular worldview trend never seem to notice that all their education, science, and sophistication has done nothing to address their emptiness and purposelessness, appease the gnawing pang of sin’s guilt, and render lasting happiness. It is this me-centered ideology that does dirty to other people—then self-destructs because all that questing never satisfies. Paul sure hits the nail on the head when he states, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved (spiritually enlightened and energized), it is the power of God” (v. 18).
Sin is dirty. God’s Word, properly applied, is cleansing (Ephesians 5:25-27). If A HEART AFTER GOD is the motivation, holiness is the natural result. (Hebrews 12:14)