Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, nice people.

Interesting day already. Becki was off early to pick up little Nicholas. I sat in a dental chair for about an hour—and was crowned. I put out the garbage for collection. I’ve picked up a couple chainsaws I had in the shop. And I’ve thrown a ball for Dandy a bunch of times—just to accommodate his passion. But, it occurs to me, that’s what some golfers are—passionate ball chasers.

I’m hoping I can get off to do some sawmill work this afternoon. Oh, oh—Thano just returned from some work announcing a breakdown with his wood splitter. I’m sure that repairs will call for Dad’s attention.

Blessings on the rest of the day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

PS: Perfect timing! Just got a call from Becki to come to lunch. Goodie! I’ll get to try out my new crown.

Yesterday I was in an office where I picked up and quickly scanned the November 2013 issue of the National Geographic that featured “Super Storms”—destructive tornados of the Midwest—and the “storm chasers” who study and photograph them. Typical of that magazine, there were spectacular photos and explanations. But in that brief exposure, one simple fact stood out to me: This is a force and phenomenon beyond man’s ability to manipulate or control. And, for that very reason, I believe we humans need these storms in order to encourage at least a measure of humility, and avoid total arrogance. If humans could control the elements, their seeking of God would certainly be diminished.

With these thoughts fairly fresh in my mind, you can understand why this statement in the FOCUS VERSE caught my attention—“It is the LORD who makes the storm clouds.” So even a violent and destructive tornado is appropriately described by insurance companies as “an act of God.” But, for the life of me, I cannot seem to fully figure out why EVERYONE does not regard almost EVERYTHING as “an act of God.” I find myself repeating this exclamation often—DIRT (purely natural causes—minerals, chemicals, gases, etc.) COULD NOT HAVE THOUGHT THIS UP!

Allow me to be repetitious and state once again something of my own perspective of the world around me. With the passing of time, I am more and more overwhelmed with the glaring evidence of the Creator—the presence of the SUPERNATURAL laced throughout the realm of what we call the NATURAL—all “hidden” in plain view. I think we need to be careful of even using the word “NATURAL”—making sure we do not accidentally imply the absence of a SUPERNATURAL God as the DESIGNER-MAKER-OWNER-SUSTAINER. Let me say it again as emphatically as I can: THERE CANNOT NOT BE A CREATOR GOD! And the natural outcome to this fundamental all-encompassing truth is IDOLATRY—anything that man substitutes for this SUPERNATURAL God. Anything!

Not much has changed from Zechariah till now—the NATURAL SIN NATURE has been around a long time—deceiving and being deceived. Verse 2 carries on to describe this pervasive deception and its consequences—“The idols speak deceit, diviners see visions that lie; they tell dreams that are false, they give comfort in vain. Therefore the people wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd” (Zechariah 10:2).

Indeed, we should be amazed and appalled at the volume of idolatrous lies that men set forth and embrace as truth—those who, as a result, “wander like sheep oppressed for lack of a shepherd?” But how should we treat or relate to those deceived wanderers? Anger? Criticism? Condemnation? Let’s be reminded of the example set forth by our Supreme Superior: “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36).

We can’t win them all to our perspective, but we can still have compassion. After all, if it weren’t for the illuminating and transformational grace of God received, there goes me—and there goes you.