Insightful Musings on the Scriptures
by
Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67
Good morning, special people.
As you will note below, there has been a death in the family. We made the difficult, but wise, decision last evening to have Max, our dog, put down. I buried him last night in the dark. I just returned from my jog…alone. The cold air tends to make my eyes water. But there was added cause this morning.
The little boys are here again. Life needs to go on…till it doesn’t. Either way, it’s a positive option for a HEART AFTER GOD. Say, “Amen!”
I assisted Andy yesterday to apply graphics to 8 of 10 State Police cars. Interesting. Now I need to get on with my list…that seems to get longer than shorter with time.
Blessings on your day.
Love, Dad/Ray.
Our dog, Max, was apparently struck by a car while we were at church on Sunday. His injuries were such that the most bearable option was to put him down. While he had experience and training in the importance of respect for the roadway, his violation goes to prove that a little 30-pound dog is no match for a 3000-pound vehicle. His foolishness is, however, excusable—he’s a dog! But what can we say about little less-than-grasshopper- size humans (Isaiah 40:22), created with objective intelligence, who are intentional in their arrogant opposition against Sovereign God?!?! It renders scenes that are incredibly beyond stupid! But, alas!—that is exactly the choice that many in Israel make. Chapter 11 commences a series of incredibly stupid rebellious uprisings.
There are times when I struggle more deeply than I can tell over this matter. This is certainly not to lay any claim to a holier-than-thou attitude of superiority. But I simply cannot comprehend why this clearly superior idea makes so much sense to me while, at the same time, it seems to make so little sense to others possessing the same gifting of human intelligence. The only conclusion I can draw is that the over-arching priority of a HEART AFTER GOD offers a level of enlightenment beyond what the psycho-spiritual bondage of the NATURAL SIN NATURE can deliver. I choose to draw that conclusion with as much compassion as I can muster.
Question: Is it possible for anyone to say anything outside the hearing of the LORD?
This is to repeat such a basic no-brainer concept that some could judge that it’s not worth mentioning. But real-life evidence demonstrates that most people do not botch things up on the level of lofty theological ideas, but on the level of simple Sunday School basic principles of Biblical truth.
Pop quiz review: This fundamental fear of the LORD (HEART AFTER GOD) is the beginning of what?