Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Just to say something rather than nothing, I’m sending along another 2010 model. It’s still relevant. And it still remains true that belief or non-belief is largely a matter of choice—not a matter of objectively examining evidence.

Lots on the agenda for the day. I need to keep moving. May your moving be blessed.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Let me raise this question: Why would anyone reject Paul’s Gospel message? He spoke from a great knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures. He spoke clearly with sound logic and intelligence. He spoke eloquently and skillfully. He spoke with conviction and the testimony of a transformed life. He spoke with a genuine motive of love and care for others. And he spoke with the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It seems like he had all the positive features one could ask for as a communicator of divine TRUTH. But still many rejected. Why? I think the basic answer is wrapped up in the quotation Paul uses from the prophet Isaiah (Is. 6:9-10). They had bad calluses of heart and mind.

There is a place, however, for good calluses. Calloused hands are good when it results from good hard work. It causes the hands to be toughened against blisters and abrasions. Calloused fingertips of the left hand are beneficial for anyone playing a guitar. Calloused feet can be good too. (I’ve had occasion to envy tough feet over the years as when walking across coral reefs with my local island spearfishing companions—watching them crash right over the stuff barefoot, while I get scratched up wearing sandals). Calloused feet can go places and do things I can’t without shoes. Even a calloused heart is good if it serves as a toughened resistance to sin, deception, and evil. But a calloused heart against the good things of God is absolutely bad. Many, if not most, of the Jews were of calloused hearts in their rejection of even the possibility that Jesus was their promised Messiah. So what else is new? Calloused hearts prevent men from receiving Christ today.

You’ve heard the quip, “You can’t mold dry clay.” So let’s make sure we remain soft and moldable in the hands of the Master Potter—moistened by the water of His Word. Let us not become dry, resistant, or calloused to His dealings. And be reminded that it was essentially calloused hearts that caused Moses to be maligned, Joseph to be jeered, David to be denounced, Stephen to be stoned, Paul to be persecuted, and Christ to be crucified.