Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

It’s not as cold this morning, but still below freezing. I did a jog earlier with the dog. Dandy finally presented a tennis ball that we could take on the jog…so I didn’t have to cough up still another. There are probably 20 balls scattered around our place. He keeps laying them down to go follow a smell, or something, then forgets where he put it…then comes to me to ask for another ball. I have to keep reminding him along the jog that I don’t share his passion—that I’m not going to chase the balls. He continually puts down a ball on a slope in the road…so that, before I can get to it, it rolls off the side of the road and down a bank. “If you want me to throw that ball, you’re going to have to go down there and get it yourself, cause I’m not!” He looks at me with a measure of irritation as I jog on…and reluctantly goes down to get his ball…and we try again further down the road.

I need to run into SE Portland. Better move. Have a great day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

You have to admit that distinctions are important. We live in a world where distinctions must be made constantly. Up and down, North and South, male and female, hot and cold, fast and slow, truth and falsehood, good and bad, right and wrong, wise and foolish, friendly dog and vicious dog—just a few distinctions we deal with every day. It’s not difficult to imagine the problems one can make for himself who does not have the sense or experience to make proper distinctions. It’s quite appropriate for us to be concerned at watching our culture actually apply effort to blur many lines of distinction.

Two distinctions are cited in the FOCUS VERSE from Sovereign God’s perspective—distinctions that He has equipped humans to make, and expects them to make—“righteous and wicked,” and “those who serve God and those who do not.” Can you imagine the problems one can make for himself who does not have the sense or experience or spiritual illumination to make proper distinctions in these matters? Can you imagine someone not recognizing any such distinction, and who reasons, “It doesn’t really matter,” or “There really isn’t any difference.” To be sure, if there is no discernible difference between these classifications, someone has to be in big trouble. I want to do everything I reasonably can to avoid that being me. Please make sure it’s not you.

It’s a dark world out there. Do you have light, or don’t you? Please understand what Jesus meant in Matthew 5:14-16—“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Allow me to paraphrase the main ideas in my own words: “You guys have to know the importance of light to help people see what they’re doing and where they’re going. I have transformed you and given you a superior standard of living that serves as light, not only to help you stay on course, but to also help them find the way by your role modeling. So don’t you dare hide or dim your light by behavior you know to be wrong. People around you are dying in the dark. For crying out loud—give them light!—give them the demonstration of a SUPERIOR transformed life!”

Jesus clearly makes that distinction. If we are truly following Him, so shall we.