Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Hello, dear people.

Sorry—it’s been a while. Soooo much going on. But then, it’s possible that after you read the composition below you may think it hasn’t been long enough. Becki continues to do well in the aftermath of her hip replacement. Saturday contained a surprise with Elvin and Eunice Huston popping in—spending a couple nights. Our daughter Jill orchestrated that in view of Thano’s birthday on Sunday, and mine later this week. Good time.

Wow!—the wind is really puffing out there. And I had better get puffing with my work load.

Blessings.

Love, Dad/Ray.

As you know, names are significant. As indicated by his name, “Porcius Festus” (24:27) was morbidly obese, never saw a plate of food he didn’t like, and was not able to gain control over the infestation of lice in his beard. Just kidding.

The FOCUS VERSE is extracted from Festus’ conversation with King Agrippa—a politician with a very strong handshake. Just kidding. Festus confesses that the big controversy between what the Jewish leaders were saying against Paul, and what Paul was saying about his own experience and resulting faith, was not something easy to research, sort out, and formulate a resulting verdict. He tells King Agrippa, “When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive. I was at a loss how to investigate such matters” (25:18-20).

I’m going to pretend I have opportunity to text-message Festus with a response to what he just said. “Dear Mr. Festus. I read your lines spoken to King Agrippa and wish to offer an approach to critiquing the veracity of Paul’s claims. My approach may sound revolutionary. Yet it is totally risk free. Since Paul’s claim that this Jesus is the ‘Son of God,’ or essentially God in human flesh, why not simply go to this God directly for yourself and ask Him? After all, Paul would tell you with no hesitation that He is the One and Only God of the universe Who cannot die, since He is the Author of all life, and Who knows everything about everything. With as much honesty as you can muster, please pray a prayer that might go something like this: ‘God—if you are there, I want to know. If this Jesus is someone important, I want to know. I invite you to help me see what You want me to see, and know what You want me to know.’”

Without Festus ever getting my text message, would to God that Festus, and many like him, would figure out the reasonableness and importance of such a heart-level search for truth on their own. Because, sadly, being “at a loss how to investigate such matters” is confirmation of a condition of lostness.