Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, special ones.

No rain at present. There’s even some blue sky up there. And it’s fairly cold. If I had the surplus of time and money, I would be tempted to hit the mountain with my skis—lots of good fresh snow. But after I send this, I’ll settle for a jog with Dandy and his ball. I’m looking forward to returning to breakfast—because I was just in the house and discerned what was in the making—one of my favorites—biscuits and egg gravy.

I hope you have a good secure day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

There are some things going on in this account that should impact our personal theology and Biblical worldview. To begin with, allow me to repeat a Biblical truth that helps me sort out lots of things in this world, and that I repeat often: THERE ARE ONLY TWO SPIRITUAL KINGDOMS IN THE UNIVERSE. They are God’s (the infinitely greater) and Satan’s (the lesser, the very existence of which being allowed and intended by the greater). We are wise to recognize that Satan and his kingdom influence are not barred from the walls of a church building or fellowship, or even from the heart of a believer—as though there was some kind of impenetrable and irrevocable barrier there to protect against any infestation whatsoever. I can tell far too many stories to show otherwise. SATAN GOES TO CHURCH! He sure does. And I have a good hunch that even some common attempts to arrogantly exorcize him from the premises or from the mind only make him laugh.

Question: Who or what is our greatest enemy with greatest potential for ultimate destruction? The answer is crucial to effective spiritual warfare. After all, if the enemy is not recognized, how can victory be sure? If we quickly answer, “Satan is our greatest enemy,” I have reason to squirm. Why? Because I judge it is safer and more accurate to regard our own dirty deceitful hearts—the effects or residue of our own NATURAL SIN NATURE—as our greatest enemy—our greatest threat. That NATURE allows Satan built-in access. But he is barred free and effective access to a HEART AFTER GOD—one that has been “born again,” “transformed” by a renewed mind, filled with the Spirit Word of God, growing in grace and knowledge of Him, regularly and intentionally putting on the full armor of God, and seeking eternal priorities beyond anything earthly. In other words, our real security is only IN CHRIST. I have reason to worry for anyone who would argue otherwise.

Peter was a changed and upgraded man after Pentecost. He was miraculously used surrounding the founding of the early church, including this incident with Ananias and his wife. And his final words many years later are worth citing: “Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18).