Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Beautiful crisp morning here. I became distracted by another train of inspiration this morning…so at this late hour, I have not yet taken breakfast…and will abandon the plan for a jog. There is simply too much pushing on me to allow that much freedom. I plan to run into the Portland area asap to deliver sawmill blades to WoodMizer for re-sharpening. And to assist Becki with the babysitting challenge, I’ll probably take Kaden with me…since Thano is heading off to a shift at Safeway in a few minutes.

All I can do is exercise my wild imagination as to what in the world you might be doing today. If you ever get a spare minute, please consider relieving me of my wild imagination.

Have a blessed day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

It’s hard for me to imagine going back to using an old typewriter again—not after becoming acquainted with this computer. Electronic and Cyber mail via the internet is pushing the former use of the postal and landline telephone systems to the brink of obsolete. I remember my first acquisition and use of a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite system) in Vanuatu. Wow! What a leap ahead—out-stripping the old-fashioned methods of navigation! The list of examples could go on and on. Modern technology certainly has a way of making old stuff obsolete.

The word “obsolete” is found in our reading—describing the superiority of the NEW covenant under Christ as compared with the OLD covenant under Moses. “He (Christ) has made the first one OBSOLETE” (8:13).

I run the risk of being repetitious, but I’d like to draw your attention once again to wonderful pronouncement of Colossians 1:27 because it so well represents the superiority of the NEW covenant of Christ. The OLD was characterized by an emphasis on the external observance of laws, codes, and sacrifices for sins. But the NEW is internal with the emphasis being “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” It makes possible the OLD prophecy quoted here, “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts” (8:10). Indeed, to walk in this newness of life is our only means to living free from fulfilling the old-man lusts of the flesh (Romans 6:4; Galatians 5:16).

Let’s not even think about returning to the OLD notion that we can be saved or made right by means of religious legalism. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). It is good NEW Testament advice to PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE. That is, in fact, the NEW Testament in action—achieving real victory over sin, self, and Satan.