Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Wow! Our shift from Song of Songs to Isaiah is about as drastic as climbing out of a nice warm bed and jumping into a glacier-fed stream. But we’ll take it as it comes.

We successfully made our round-trip to the coast yesterday…departing about noon and returning about 9:30pm. Included was a stop at Andy and Delaine’s in Dallas where we put a bit of the fresh tuna we bought into their fancy BBQ grill. Very nice. Today we’ll commence the canning process. And we’ll probably cook some up for lunch too.

May your day flow as it should.

Love, Dad/Ray.

The Space Needle in Seattle was built in connection with the 1962 World Fair. It’s easy for me to remember that fact since that was the city and year of my graduation from Sealth High School (named after a local indian chief—Chief Sealth, or Chief Seattle). I remember peering over the edge from the observation deck of that tower before it was equipped with anti-suicide glass barriers. It’s a long way down! Everyone with a functional mind knows that if one were to jump from there, it would be certain death. Why? Because everyone understands something of the power of the LAW OF GRAVITY. (Technical point: Science understands the power of this law, but science still does not understand the law itself—its source and cause—and why it works. As with the phenomenon of LIFE itself, science cannot replicate it from raw materials on purpose—although they claim with a straight face that raw materials did so by accident. Go figure.)

Let me ask you to stretch your imagination to picture a man who arrogantly convinces himself that he is strong enough to overpower the LAW OF GRAVITY. Let’s even picture him on the deck of that tower preaching his stupid message to the crowd that gathers around him. Let’s even imagine that he speaks with such fervor and compelling argument that he wins many stupid converts—nearly the entire crowd—who are willing to climb over the railing and jump with him. He promises new freedom, fun, and fulfillment, and offers bottles of champagne to all willing to join the party. As you watch, he and his converts jump on the count of three. He’s right, you know—they immediately win freedom from any discernable fear or consequence of gravity—they’re floating along having a great time—“Isn’t this wonderful? So far, so good!” But you and I both know the party won’t last long. It will end soon with a bunch of spats—and the fire department will be called in to pick up the pieces and hose down the mess.

Is this a bizarre account? No more so than the reality of little arrogant wimpy humans trying to defy the LAWS OF GOD with the stupid notion of winning. The wages of defying God is worse than splat. “But rebels and sinners will both be broken, and those who forsake the LORD will perish” (1:28). Isaiah’s advice: “Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he?” (2:22). Isaiah’s inspired offer of the LORD’S amazing grace: “’Come now, let us reason together,’ says the LORD. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. If you are willing and obedient, you will eat of the best from the land; but if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword’” (1:18-20).