Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear people.

Yesterday was a big day of non-income activity. Two main objectives were on my list—go to the Clackamas County Fair with the two grandkids, and process a batch of peaches by canning that someone gave us that needed attention right away. We were successful on both counts—with a mixture of easy and difficult stuff in between. Today I need to get headed for the continuation of a sawmill job.

May your day be a good one. I hope mine is a good one—where the mill performs as sweet as it did on Tuesday.

Love, Dad/Ray.

It’s easy for me to imagine what it’s like to be lost. After all, we all begin with that status. But I wonder if many in the class of the lost ever wonder what it’s like to be saved—what it’s like to establish and maintain relationship with the “Sovereign LORD” (25:8) on His terms—to the point that one is motivated to aggressively seek Him like a starving man seeks food, or a drowning man seeks a life ring, or an attacked man seeks a rescue—to the point that one is not only delivered from the guilt of sin, but they actually come to trust Him, love Him, and view their entire reason for being to serve Him. I’m inclined to believe that IF it were possible to effectively communicate these marvelous benefits to the understanding of the lost, as compared with the alternatives, there would be no such thing as lostness. Apparently, this whole realm of reality completely eludes lost cynics and unbelievers. And I find no delight in that.

After re-reading the previous paragraph, something occurs to me: I think I have just described the spiritual reality of the TWO KINGDOMS in conflict—the reality of spiritual warfare—the TRUTH of God in conflict with the LIES AND DECEPTIONS of Satan. I see no other way to explain the chasm that separates these two basic worldviews among humans who live on the same earth, exposed to the same basic data, and equipped with the same gifting basic of human intelligence. It forms a wild and terrible paradox. I mean, THE SAME GOD WHO IS REPULSED BY THE ARROGANT AND WEALTHY IS THE SAME GOD THAT IS A “REFUGE TO THE POOR.” That’s what Isaiah exclaims—“You have been a refuge to the poor, a refuge for the needy in his distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat” (25:4).

“Or else let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me” (27:5). This expression from the heart of God supports the fact that He clearly chooses to not reveal Himself dramatically and conclusively to everyone—which would include those who don’t want to know Him. That would be too much like a force job. Rather the reality of His existence and Sovereignty is reserved for those who seek Him with a hunger and thirst to know Him and please Him—with an eagerness to accept His terms of engagement. A Biblical premise for Biblical living is, “The righteous will live by faith” (Galatians 3:11). I wish I were able to communicate this truth more effectively—but lost humans will never never ever establish this relationship on their terms.

“Let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation”—even though we cannot be glad about the destiny of those who reject “his salvation.”