Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear special ones.

It’s now light enough out this window to see the silhouette of the trees. I was recently in the house playing with the little boys and attempting dialogue with Becki. We did our morning cuddles with the boys and sang our morning song. Now I hope I can squeeze in a jog before taking on the thick of the day.

The little boys sure had a great time yesterday when we took them up into the snow above Colton…not far away. Max came along too. He had an absolute blast romping and ripping around in all that white stuff. I was able to get a few good photos too.

One week till Christmas? Whew! It sure is easy to get all caught up in the commercial and traditional pressure of it all…and miss the whole point. Go ahead and do what you need to do…but don’t let that happen. Celebrate the Savior!

Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray

Oh oh…Beki just called…another relative emergency. Here we go…the day is under way!

Have you noticed in the scriptural record that people who have been specially chosen and used mightily by God seldom face a comfortable life and a natural death? Take, for example, the person Jesus declared to be the greatest man who ever lived—John the Baptist. Of him Jesus said, “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist” (Matthew 11:11). Yet he got his head chopped off! Is that the kind of outcome you would expect for this outstanding guy?!?

Our reading presents two special “witnesses” who are predicted to emerge in the middle of the tribulation period with a mighty ministry—specially empowered to communicate the Gospel and perform supernatural signs and wonders. But then they finally meet a violent death!—being attacked and killed by the antichrist who is allowed (by Sovereign God) to be specially empowered by Satan. The witnesses are soon resurrected to life and then given a sensational public rapture (as contrasted with a secret one)—but they still had to die a violent death.

May I remind you of how very BIG and transcending (eternal) are God’s plans and purposes over those of natural mortal men? May I remind you that you also have been called and chosen to be a communicator of the Gospel of Christ and a representative of the Kingdom of God? May I remind you that the same diabolical power that governed Herod (who beheaded John the Baptist) and empowers the antichrist is also against you—meaning, you could be severely persecuted and even die as a direct result of your faith in Christ and His saving grace? Are you scared yet? You shouldn’t be. May I remind you that when you seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33) and choose to follow Christ, you, like those two witnesses, become invincible and indestructible until your assignment is complete? Paul’s exclamation is worth repeating: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37). So, death? Hey! Get it straight! It’s no big deal for the child of God! Besides, it’s going to happen one way or another anyway. Be reminded that none of us are getting out of here alive (physically). And be reminded of Jesus’ words: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (Matthew 10:28). Our Biblical faith affirms that death for the believer, by whatever means, is simply the unavoidable passageway to eternal joy—an offer given by the only One Who Knows—the only One Who is above sin and death.