Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, special ones.

It never has up and rained yet today here…but there is a moisture in the air. Becki and I did our walk/jog earlier. We tend to be lousy planners, but we would be a lot worse without this kind of time together to talk over ideas and plans for the day and the future.

May your day go well…as you simply love God and steer clear of idols.

Love, Dad/Ray.

The terrorist attack on America is etched in my own memory—September 11, 2001. I came fairly close to that ugly event having changed planes in Pittsburg the day before. So late evening of September 10th, I made it back to Colorado where our son, Thano, was still in rehabilitation at Denver-based Craig Hospital following his traumatic brain injury of May 28, 2001. I will never forget the signs of a spiritual awakening that was triggered across America on the heels of that gruesome reality. “God bless America,” “Pray for our country,” or simply “PRAY” were messages I beheld everywhere, along with a huge wave of waving flags. Television news confirmed the phenomenal revival of God-seeking and patriotism across the land. It was profound—but it didn’t seem to last long. Even from my own limited view, it seemed apparent that America returned to “business as usual” in a few short weeks and months.

Consider Nineveh—the primary focus of Nahum’s prophecies. Here’s a comment made in my study Bible in the introduction to the little book of Nahum: “A century earlier, Jonah had been sent to preach to Assyria’s capital city of Nineveh. For a brief time the Assyrians repented of their sins, but sometime thereafter returned to their wicked ways.” No doubt you see the parallel that I’m making—comparing America to Nineveh (Assyria).

However we do our interpreting and figuring, let us not take lightly the ominous danger any person or any group place themselves in if or when “the LORD Almighty” says, or even implies, “I am against you.” The simple recognition that “the LORD Almighty” is ALMIGHTY LORD and SOVEREIGN MAKER/ OWNER OVER EVERYTHING with unlimited POWER should cause us to fear His opposition more than anyone or anything else!

Some will argue, “But how can I really know whether or not God is against me?” The best answers for that question are clearly tucked away in God’s revelation to mankind—the Bible. And the best way to prevent even the possibility of that is to BE FOR HIM—TOTALLY—TO THE POINT THAT YOU DEVELOP A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD ALMIGHTY SO CLOSE AND PERSONAL THAT YOU LOVE HIM. What an idea! A HEART AFTER GOD! Indeed, that’s how this deal basically works—that is, GOD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO ARE AGAINST HIM. But He actually works out everything for GOOD on behalf of those who “love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28-29). Jesus drew attention to this principle when He said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters” (Matthew 12:30). You should not have any question whatsoever as to how I think you should vote.