Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Greetings, dear ones.

Both Becki and I agree that we wouldn’t be much harmed if we never attended this local rodeo event again. In the middle of it, I received a call from Andy who reported that an opportunity came up to go tuna fishing tomorrow morning (i.e., this morning) and asked if I wanted to come along. I had to decline as I’m scheduled to cut up a bunch of hardwood logs today. He said they are really nailing the tuna off the coast right now.

I think this is a pretty good little 3-point message—if I do say so myself. I think it’s important to live with a constant awareness of two impending Biblical realities that are featured in this short chapter—JUDGMENT (God’s final say on justice) and ETERNITY. I worry that far too many theological systems out there are far too light in their embracing of these Biblical realities. Lord—help us to be balanced believers!

Blessings on your day today.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Only three little words, GOD IS JUST, but the message contains a tremendous amount of valuable information and inspiration that should serve as a kind of anchor for our faith. Say it again: GOD IS JUST. You and I are entirely right to not only tremble at the thought, but also recognize with deep gratitude the grace and security this truth affords.

Let’s make it as an exercise to process this truth by emphasizing its three word parts:

• GOD is just. It is His nature to be just. And He has every right to impose that standard upon His creation. Yet man is unjust, by the spoiling influence of his sin nature. Isaiah gives a description of the affairs of unregenerate man: “No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case with integrity. They rely on empty arguments and speak lies; they conceive trouble and give birth to evil” (Isaiah 59:4). Can you see, then, why God’s Word is so vitally important? It is man’s only hope! Psalm 19 says that “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul…The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous” (Psalm 19:7-11). Peter declares that by our proper absorption of God’s Word, we can actually “participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires” (2 Peter. 1:4).


• God IS just. It’s not that God has been just in the historical past, or that He will be in the future. He IS just right now in spite of how things may appear. Little ignorant men often accuse God of being unjust, or at least uncaring. They complain, “If God is fair and just, how can He permit all this corruption and injustice to prevail in the world? How could a just God allow my teenage daughter to be kidnapped and abused? How could He tolerate my father being killed by a drunk driver?” I certainly don’t like what I recently read that “less than 2% of street crimes in New York city are brought to justice.” Sometimes the world looks like a chaotic mess of injustice. But we need to back off and reckon that history is HIS STORY—and His story is not finished yet. He says, “I will repay” (Romans 12:17-19). And that’s that!


• God IS JUST. He is entirely JUST as opposed to dishonest, deceitful, partial, or evil. He can neither sin nor tolerate sin. And in His dealings with His creation nothing gets by Him unnoticed. “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). We would do well to memorize and meditate on Galatians 6:7-8: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” Judgment Day will be the finalization of God’s justice. You and I are wise to prepare now.